Valerie Visuelle

NAME: Valerie Visuelle
CENSORSHIP: Content ban, ad ban

What reason was given for your ban?

Nudity in my paintings/drawings.

Why do you think your post(s) was censored?

I think it was because of the drawn nudity in my posts, the declined promos didn’t even show genitals, only breasts without nipples and an abstracted bum.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

Yes, I did but it was declined again.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

It made me feel like I’m doing wrong with my artwork. The censorship hurt so many aspects of my paintings. It made me feel insecure about the female, feminist artist I am and the (not only female) body empowerment I want to portray in my pictures. And I didn’t really get why they had to ban nude abstract art like it’s “not allowed” to draw a naked human body and show it to the world. It wasn’t even sexual.

What’s one thing you want people to know about this topic?

Don’t let censorship on social media stop you from showing the world your artistic perception. As long as you don’t hurt people in an illegal/negative way (people can always get hurt by going through their own experiences while they perceive art, pain isn’t always a bad thing) feel free to express and post anything you want and need to. Social media has to stay a safe space for artists and it only will be if we keep on posting our content. Don’t give up just because you got shadowbanned or censored. Every negative experience of censorship should be the motivation to work even harder and post even more of your peculiar way to see the world!