For some people, the idea of an acid attack is far too cruel to even fathom. But for the 1,000 women who are attacked with acid every year in India, this is a very dangerous reality, and that’s exactly what artist Alexsandro Palombo wants to make sure the world realizes.
Acid attacks are a form of assault where the attacker throws acid or any other corrosive substance onto the body of someone else to try to maim and disfigure them. Because death is not a common result of an acid attack, the goal of this attack is lifelong bodily disfigurement. The acid often burns through skin, cartilage and bone. This not only leaves severe scars and disfiguration, it can lead to blindness, deafness, the inability to talk and various mental health issues.
Although acid attacks can happen to anyone, the majority of acid attacks happen to women in Central and South Asia. Worst of all, these inhumane attacks are often a response to a marriage refusal. Imagine being attacked for simply telling a man you’re not interested? Huffington Post points out that the Taliban has even used this form of assault to scare away young girls from the classroom. As much as we all want this to stop, there are no stern laws against acid attacks within the Indian judicial system. This is where artist Alexsandro Palombo wants to see change.
“If we just observe and stand still, then we are all accomplices,” Palombo said. “And [to] be complicit means to take the side of those cowards, monsters and criminals.”
Realizing that many people around the world do not know about (or simply ignore) acid attacks, Palombo wanted to draw attention to and raise awareness for this issue in the most startling way he could think of: He portrayed beloved Disney Princesses as acid attack survivors.
Be sure to check out more of Alexsandro Palombo‘s work on his Facebook. If you want to see the brave faces of actual acid attack survivors, check out this incredibly inspiring photo shoot.
All photos courtesy of Alexsandro Palombo’s official Facebook page.
