WOMEN IN LOVE is born from an idea of Benedetta Paravia, aka Princess Bee, Vice President and Ambassador of A.N.G.E.L.S. – National Association of Great Energies Leading Solidarity – ONLUS. The aim is to raise public awareness on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (clitoridectomy, excision and infibulation) in order to help put an end to this violence perpetrated on girls and young women, a violation of Human Rights (WHO 2008).
There are more than 200 million women in the world who live with one of the existing genital mutilation, while 4 million girls are at risk of suffering one every vear. In Italy 90.000 women painfully coexist with one of the three existing genital mutilations and every year 8.000 minors are at risk, of which 4.000 become victims. International mobilizations against this phenomenon have reduced the incidence in the new generations but the problem is still seriously widespread.
FGM has become the target of the fifth goal of Sustainable Development: gender equality. In fact, although the practice is managed by women, it is however supported by a system of values and norms that exercise a cultural and identity function: the attenuation of female desire, the increase of male pleasure but above all the security of marriage fidelity and the preservation of virginity are among the dominant motivations of a sexual nature. Therefore, FGM has no religious basis and is practiced in many countries of Africa, the South of the Arabian Peninsula, South East Asia and, indeed, also in Italy. With Law n. 7 of January 9th 2006, the Italian Parliament has taken steps to protect women from FGM practices in implementation of articles 2, 3 and 32 of the Italian Constitution and of what is sanctioned by the Declaration and the Action Program adopted in Beijing on September 15th, 1995 at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women. Finally, on February 6th, the World Day Against Female Genital Mutilation was proclaimed.
WOMEN IN LOVE contributes to the mobilitation and to the cultural change. The Project includes a personal exhibition by the artist who exhibits, from time to time, 7 new NFTs video art depicting each 7 different women volunteers, with the photographic direction by Daniele Pedone. Images arouse emotional impact through the real representation of the female ecstasy, that is the force of nature as opposed to the violence of the crime of the FGM. The viewer is consequently led to the reflection and awareness of the fact that, unlike the women represented in the videos, mutilated women have suffered serious physical and mental injuries inflicted on their femininity, denied them from these practises. The catalog made in Italian and English, will contain some of the more significant testimonials who have been engaged for over thirty years in the fight against the FGM, whether they have been victims of it or have escaped the violence. At the end of each exibition, the NFTs will be sold in OpenSea on the blockchain to support a targeted awareness campaign for girls through the social media Tiktok and Instagram and a series of itinerant conferences on the theme of the FGM.
The rest of the proceeds will be used for free of charge de-infibulation and clitoris-plastic of the mutilated victims. The inauguration of the exhibition WOMEN IN LOVE took place on December 2nd at Palazzo Bembo in Venice, in collaboration with the international gallery ITSLIQUID GROUP. The exhibition has ended on December 23nd, 2022. Subsequently the works were exhibited from 8th to 10th March 2023 at San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome during the event “Donne in Luce” and from 9th to 12th March 2023 in Dubai at the World Trade Center during the international event “World Art Dubai”. WOMEN IN LOVE was awarded “Best Project” for Women Empowerment by the House of Lords in London on October 28th 2022 and received the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Italian Department of Equals Opportunities and the City of Venice.
Multifaceted artist, author, creative producer and philanthropist Benedetta Paravia aka Princess Bee works between Italy and the United Arab Emirates, creating a bridge between the Middle East and Europe through culture, university education, songs (including one for peace, “Angels”, which was endorsed by UNESCO, the Holy See and received a medal of merit from the late Italian President Giorgio Napolitano), books, television and cross-media programs for women, catwalks, art exhibitions and solidarity. She is Vice President and Ambassador of A.N.G.E.L.S. – National Association of Great Energies Leading Solidarity – ONLUS with which she has been working since 2008 to save sick children from war zones and protect human rights. A year ago she launched her artistic-cultural-humanitarian project “Women in Love” against the crime of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): video art that emphasizes the ecstasy and strength of female nature against the crime of violence. In March 2023 she launched an “inclusive” mini collection by Princess Bee in Yamamay stores, dedicated to the color of every woman’s skin. She collaborates as a journalist with La Repubblica, RepTV, il Borghese and Gli Italiani. She was recently threatened by a fugitive following her investigation into the lives of Italian fugitives in Dubai published on La Repubblica.
Series of 7 video art NFTs made by the artist, each portraying 7 female volunteers of different nationalities. The images arouse emotional impact through the representation of a real orgasm, therefore the power of female nature as opposed to the violence of the crime of FGM; The spectator is consequently induced to reflect and become aware of the profound physical and psychic injuries inflicted on the woman and of her own femininity which is denied to her after having undergone these practices.
“It is said that the slightest flap of a butterfly’s wings is capable of causing a hurricane on the other side of the world.”
The Butterfly effect.
“[…] lava descended from the dark mountain, tracing roots of fire to the pine of smoke.” Hans Christian Andersen.
“But on one point there is no doubt. And that is that you, coming out of that wind, will not be the same as you were coming into it.” Haruki Murakami.
“The jellyfish, when at sea, seems to be made of light, seems mottled with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts.” Fabrizio Caramagna.
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