Hundreds of red shoes will line the grounds of the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens in a striking art installation that highlights violence against women.
Red Shoes is a collaborative community art project first designed by Mexican artist Elina Chauvet in 2009 after the death of her sister through domestic violence.
The Bundaberg Region interpretation of this concept will be installed in November to coincide with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
The culmination of a year-long project by Bundaberg Regional Galleries, collaboration with the community first began in May 2024 when Vanessa Fowler OAM, sister of Allison Baden-Clay and Chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, painted the first pair of shoes for the Bundaberg installation.
Bundaberg Regional Council Arts, Heritage and Asset Management portfolio spokesperson Councillor John Learmonth said the installation was developed through 30 community sessions held throughout the region since May.
“A wide cross-section of the community participated in the sessions during which participants painted a pair of shoes red while engaging in conversations about domestic and family violence,” Cr Learmonth said.
“Sessions were conducted with high school students, emergency and front line workers, support staff and community members, with over 650 participants contributing to the project.
“The resulting installation is a dramatic visualisation of the lives lost to gender-based violence across Australia.”
Community Resilience and Connection portfolio spokesperson Cr Tracey McPhee said important conversations were shared in the sessions.
“The sessions encouraged peer-to-peer conversations around how we define domestic and family violence, what a healthy relationship looks like, and what we think is acceptable in relationships,” Cr McPhee said.
“Participants talked about support services, who was a safe person in their life who they could go to for advice, and the current statistics around DFV in Australia.
“Statistics released by the Australian Institute of Criminology in April tell us that on average, one woman loses their life to family and domestic violence in Australia every four days.”
Since its initial launch the Red Shoes project has been staged in countries around the world, with Bundaberg the third iteration of the project in Australia.
Opening event
The Bundaberg Red Shoes project will be officially opened on Saturday 30 November at 10 am, all welcome, no booking required.
The installation will be on display from 25 November to 10 December on the lawn behind Fairymead House.
Red Shoes is free to visit during Bundaberg Botanic Gardens opening hours.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence and needs support, please contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services on 000.
