Anyone who passed by Forum Aveiro last Saturday encountered an unusual structure: a kind of wooden booth, resembling a photo booth, with closed curtains and a simple message at the entrance: “Free Photobooth.” Inside, visitors were invited to take four free photographs. When they received the printed photos, a hidden detail was revealed: one of the four pictures had the woman’s face crossed out. Below, a caption read: “According to APAV (Portuguese Association for Victim Support), 1 in 4 women has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.”

“An immersive experience about domestic violence” described the flyer handed out along with the photos and shared by many of the people who participated throughout the afternoon. This was no ordinary photo booth; it was an intimate mirror reflecting the silence, pain, and urgency of confronting what so many ignore: domestic violence.

The “Quebrar o Ciclo” (“Breaking the Cycle”) project was initiated by an informal group of young people, Vizinhança in collaboration with Agora Aveiro and with support from the “Namorar com Fair Play” program by the Portuguese Institute of Youth and Sports (IPDJ). The aim was to raise awareness of the scale of domestic violence in Portugal. With this installation, they sought to highlight the urgent need to identify the often silent and invisible signs of domestic violence and to inspire a culture of reporting, empathy, and action.

During the event, more than 120 people participated in the experience, receiving a set of photographs and an informational flyer with data and useful resources. The intervention was designed to be both intimate and public - a silent conversation between those who entered and those who watched from outside.

The closing of the event featured a performance by João Tinoco, singer and composer of the song “O Ciclo” which inspired the creation of the installation. His approach addressed the theme of domestic violence through art, forging a deep connection with everyone who took part.

The Reality Behind the Statistics
According to a recent report from Expresso, nearly 700 people have been murdered in the context of domestic violence in Portugal over the past 25 years. In 2024 alone, 22 people have lost their lives, and over 30,000 reports have been filed, figures that reveal the persistence and severity of the problem. The vast majority of victims are women, but violence extends beyond the domestic space: it also occurs in dating relationships, within families, and even in public spaces, affecting women and men, young and old.

“Quebrar o Ciclo” was more than just an installation, it was a mirror that gave faces to victims and transformed stark data into empathy. It showed that art can be a weapon against silence, awakening awareness and action. Because as long as there are those who suffer in silence, these campaigns will always have a voice.