Gee Vaucher has some of her portraits of children who have ‘seen too much too soon’ up in the Reina Sofia in Madrid.
They’re stunning to look at.
In most of the portraits the children are wide-eyed, implying that the experiences they’ve been through have made them alert, put them in a permanent state of fight or flight. In one portrait though, the look is very difficult, there is a fear in the eyes, but it is almost as if the eyes are determined to hide as much as they can, about whatever emotions the child has.
But that idea, that the children saw too much too soon implies shame, although it may not be intended. And if not shame, then damage, but is there any difference between implying that someone is damaged and shaming them?
Published in 2007 they were.
