Megan Preston-Davies is a multimedia artist based in Leeds. At the forefront of her practice is nostalgia and reflection of the past. She uses motifs from childhood, which have accompanied her throughout her experiences of growing up as a woman. Her work addresses memory and trauma, and one way she does this is through her use of gendered texts on domestic objects.
My Mother Will Always Have to Know is a ceramic piece thrown on a potter’s wheel, glazed to show a passage she has written. The passage reflects on Megan’s experience of womanhood following an abusive relationship, resulting in a court case. Whilst she was one of the few to get a form of justice, her practice acknowledges the many victims who do not and have to live in silence. Giving a voice to the voiceless is something important to her and her art practice. She went on to speak out about her experience through various news outlets and now dedicates much of her time creating artworks which spread awareness of sexual violence, following her successful art fundraiser for a charity which supported her through the court process.
This artwork reflects on the aftermath of sexual violence and abuse. If you or a loved one are dealing with a similar experience, support services are listed below.
Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds: 0808 802 3344
Survivors West Yorkshire: 01274 965009
Ben’s Place: 01274 965 009
The piece reads:
You took all I had and left me to rot I am the carcass that lies at the bottom of your bin after your family dinner and your father smiles and asks why we don’t speak anymore I don’t think he knows what you did my mother will always have to know
