Project Lovebomb, is a project that helps to raise awareness of the red flags of abuse – such as “lovebombing” – to help prevent people getting sucked into toxic relationships and increase general awareness and understanding about abusive relationships. The project will also provide workshops for abuse survivors.
This project by Liverpool-based artist Emily Salinas, derives from personal experience of being lovebombed into an abusive relationship and wanting to prevent others from going through the same, but approaching it from a way where it can also help to spread a little joy and positivity.
This is such a heavy topic that makes some want to avoid looking at it (until you’re forced to because it’s too late and you ended up in one), but this project makes it more palatable to engage with by also celebrating and actively facilitating real appreciation and connections, reclaiming the idea of “lovebombing” in doing so.
(For those not familiar with the term “lovebombing” it is a manipulation tactic used to groom someone into an abusive relationship by flooding them with fake and grandiose displays of “love” including constant contact, compliments and big declarations that make it harder to leave once the abuse starts).
The workshops
The workshops for abuse survivors will run at women’s charity Whisc (in Liverpool) and be cofacilitated by Emily Salinas and Whisc staff trained in working with abuse survivors. These involve some craft therapy, support, guidance and signposting aswell as a chance to share experiences in a safe space and meet other people who have been through something similar. Survivors can find themselves quite alone after exiting an abusive relationship (or whilst in the midst of one).
The crafting element will involve making “lovebombs” which are appreciation packages to send to loved ones that also contain information about the origins of Project Lovebomb and what lovebombing is to help spread awareness as a side benefit to first showing appreciation.
The project is part of Liverpool’s “Independents Biennial” creative festival and the first of the appreciation campaigns (“The lovebombs”) will start 14 August, while the second (“The Appreciation Campaign” involving murals) will start 28th August.
See the fundraiser page here