HerStory
IN EACH STORY WE FIND A STORY OF PAIN, BUT ABOVE ALL OF OVERCOMING AND RESILIENCE OF THESE WOMEN.
Even years after the Maria da Penha Law was passed, research shows that all forms of domestic violence have increased in Brazil, showing that there is still a lot to be done.
That’s why NAMI, in partnership with its chairwoman and founder Panmela Castro, is holding the “HerStory” project, a traveling exhibition that promotes the fight against domestic violence against women.
Panmela’s paintings are inspired by the countless reports she receives from women who have experienced violence. In the series, the artist paints portraits of these women, accompanied by their stories. The public who see the paintings and read the stories learn about the pain and violence of these women, but above all, they find stories of overcoming violence that encourage more women not to accept violence in their lives. The project covers the main topics related to domestic violence, such as the history of women, the construction of gender, structural machismo, the five types of violence (psychological, moral, physical, sexual and property), the Maria da Penha Law and the Dial 180.
The exhibition has already traveled to five locations, reaching more than 24,000 visitors.
Places where the exhibition has already been:
“Portraits, Stories: Subverting Pain” at Sesc Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil.
On its fourth stop, the exhibition Portraits, Stories: Subverting Pain arrives in Brazil’s Northeast for the first time. From August 22 to November 22, 2025, the stories of these ten women will be on view in Feira de Santana, Bahia.
“Portraits, Stories: Subverting Pain” at Sesc Jaraguá do Sul, Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Continuing its traveling exhibition, Portraits, Stories arrived in the countryside of Santa Catarina, where it presented the stories of these ten women from April 24 to July 11, 2025.
“Portraits, Stories: Subverting Pain” at Sesc Centro, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
The exhibition, which began as an artist residency in Paraty featuring live painting sessions, is now reaching new audiences as part of the Sesc National program. Curitiba was the first city to host the traveling exhibition, on view from January 22 to March 28, 2025.
“HerStory: subverting pain” at Sesc Santa Rita, Paraty – RJ
In order for the project to reach as many people as possible in different cities across Brazil, the exhibition became part of Art Sesc, the national circuit of exhibitions run by the National Department of Sesc. With funding from the institution, the exhibition took place at the Sesc Santa Rita visual arts reference space in Paraty from June 22 to September 10, 2023.
Glória Maria Park (Ruins Park), Rio de Janeiro – RJ
As part of the “16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women” campaign, which begins every year on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the opening of the “HerStory” exhibition was one of the actions promoted by the Rio de Janeiro Secretariat for Women’s Policies and Promotion. The exhibition will be on display until January 8, 2023.
Glass Cube Gallery, CEFET/RJ Campus Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Talking to young people about domestic violence is crucial to addressing the Maria da Penha Law in an educational way and promoting a transformation in our society. In this context, the exhibition toured the Glass Cube gallery at CEFET/RJ, where it was visited by staff, teachers and students aged between 14 and 18. The exhibition was on display from November 25, 2022 to March 20, 2023.
Cora Coralina Cultural Village, Goiânia – GO
The exhibition was presented at Vila Cultural Cora Coralina in Goiânia from August 18 to October 7, 2022, curated by Keyna Eleison and Gilmar Camilo. Alongside the exhibition, the project “Letra Delas” organized 14 public programs and activities.
