AN EXHIBITION of photographs highlights sexual violence and victim blaming.

The Shire Hall Museum is hosting Asking For It, an exhibition created by Dorset photographer Jayne Jackson which explores changing opinions towards historical and current tendencies toward victim blaming, especially in cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

Based on multiple case studies, Jayne Jackson’s photographic art project was created over a three-year period, highlighting victim blaming in cases of sexual violence through the use of historical styling and ‘mugshot’ format.

She shared how the museum formed great inspiration for the project as Shire Hall was Dorset’s centre of justice from 1797 until 1955.

Dorset Echo: Shire Hall courtrooms

She said: “Seeing the courthouse and old cells at Shire Hall Museum was hugely inspiring to me and I feel there is so much we can learn from history, especially when we compare that to how survivors are still treated today.  This project engages wider audiences and invites the viewer to question the aspect of blame.

“The images continue to be exhibited, publish, and used in educational seminars and workshops across the world, but Dorset is where the project was born. Shire Hall Museum shares my passion about making a positive difference, opening important conversations, and inspiring others to become agents of positive change.”

The exhibition uses make-up artists, actors, and historical photographic techniques to create a series of 23 ‘mugshots’, each representing a different decade. They also each represent a “reason” to victim-blame such as ‘Flirted’, ‘Wore Red’, or ‘Swiped Right’.

Dorset Echo: Asking For It by Jayne Jackson mugshot example

It also includes images taken using historic wet plate collodion methods, inspired by research at The Dorset History Centre and earlier visits to Shire Hall Museum. 

Tamsin Little, Co-Interim Director at Shire Hall Museum, said: “As a social justice museum, our mission is to engage visitors with the history of justice and injustice, inspiring them to make a difference to society, politics and justice for all.

“Working with Jayne Jackson to display her incredible exhibition is a privilege- her passion and dedication to social justice is inspiring and so evident in the work she’s created. We’re looking forward to sharing this impactful exhibition with our visitors.”