THE LOST VENUS
Official Visual Identity | Traveling Summit Against
Female Genital Mutilation
The Lost Venus is an ongoing collaboration with SICPRE (Italian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) addressing female genital mutilation (FGM). Conceived as a visual manifesto for human rights and the protection of women’s dignity, the project was created to confront the systemic silencing of gender-based violence and to insist on visibility where institutions often prefer abstraction.
Institutional Presence
The work has been presented in high-level institutional and academic contexts including:
The Italian Senate, Rome.
Palazzo Isimbardi, Milan (Seat of the Metropolitan City of Milan).
UNESCO, International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Koehnline Museum of Art, USA.
Università di Napoli Federico II, Padova, and Palermo.
Upcoming: Special independent presentation at the Italian Embassy, London (2026).
The Composition: Reflection and Reality
The Lost Venus is a staged photographic work created using a doll and a system of mirrors. A faceless figure appears to hold hands with others, endlessly multiplied through reflection. In reality, she is alone.
This optical illusion becomes a metaphor for a trauma that is both individual and collective—shared by millions of women and girls worldwide, often invisible and rarely spoken. Discreetly embedded within the composition is a layered presence of objects referencing real instruments used in female genital mutilation. These elements emerge only through sustained observation, mirroring the way such violence is frequently concealed within cultural and social structures.
Materiality and Symbolism
Printed on ChromaLuxe aluminum, the work utilizes a cold, metallic surface to recall the clinical brutality of the instruments referenced. From a distance, the reflective oval composition subtly evokes the anatomical form of a vulva, reinforcing the symbolic dimension of the image. The aluminum support intensifies the impact: its contemporary, almost sculptural presence transforms the photograph into a permanent, uncompromising witness.
A Living Project
Produced in a limited edition, The Lost Venus is conceived as a tool for advocacy. Each year, a copy of the work is donated to summit speakers in recognition of their commitment to raising awareness and advancing systemic change.
The project is supported by ActionAid, UNHCR, Forward and SICPRE.
“FGM is not just a physical violence — it’s a legacy of female subjugation rooted in patriarchy. Inspired by Dottoressa Stefania De Fazio’s tireless advocacy, I created The Lost Venus to stand in solidarity with every woman and girl still denied autonomy. Ending this cruelty requires all of us — regardless of gender — to speak out and act.”
For deeper insights, please watch this video discussion with Dottoressa Stefania De Fazio, President of SICPRE and Plastic Surgeon, where she talks about the symbolism of The Lost Venus and the importance of continuing to raise awareness about FGM.
Article on Vanity Fair
University Federico II Naples
Cristina Burns at the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
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