Does beholding an image of desire or sexual violence implicate us in that image’s power dynamics? When a figure looks directly at us—as if to acknowledge our presence—how do we look back?

In this experimental installation, we explore the ethics of presenting images of power and sexuality. In doing so, we acknowledge the harm that images can cause when we obscure sexual violence with terms like “amorous” or prioritize symbolic meaning and artistic style. Artworks are not passive—they reflect and impact our lived experiences and contribute to our shared values.

Juxtaposing images of sexual violence with positive examples of consensual desire by artists utilizing Black, feminist, and queer frameworks allows us to think critically about sexual power dynamics that appear throughout art. Considered together, we hope these works help us develop trauma-informed ethics for interpreting imagery in art museums and our broader visual culture.