House of Flora & Melody

Melody, London

‘Your value is independent of your circumstances.’

In November 2014, mum-of-two Melody tried to take her own life after years of horrendous abuse from her ex-husband. Waking up in hospital proved to be a turning point – she saw there was no way she and her kids could continue to live under the control of a man who despised her.

A month later, Melody escaped – taking only the children and a few essentials – with just £147 in the bank. Lost, desperate, and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she found refuge in a friend’s loft, and began to reckon with her ordeal.

From here, Melody was able to reach out to Shelter, whose caseworkers helped her to access the holistic package of support and resources she needed to pull her life back together. Melody was helped to arrange a multi-agency risk assessment, childcare, solicitors, police liaison, and more. Crucially, she was made to feel valued – and encouraged to rediscover her love of art.

Melody’s first portrait was completed in November 2017 – a piece called “Turning the Corner”. Her ongoing series explores the behind-closed-doors experiences of people living with domestic violence, and tells her truth with real resonance. Today, she sees her oil painting and her writing as tools for healing – and to give validation to other survivors.

Maker’s notes

FLORA MELODY CROWN

Melody Victoria is even more than her amazing name. She’s super passionate, talented, a singer and artist with many interests similar to my own – with exotic tastes from Spanish mantillas to the Amazon jungle. Her imagination and mine fizzed. This meant the project flowed very naturally and ideas poured out of us as soon as we met. Instantly simpatico, we shared many stories and images. I wanted to make her a crown or tiara, so I have constructed a metallic 3D line drawing based on one of her early sketches of her dream home. I’ve tried to include many aspects of our intense conversations to celebrate her victories in a melodic dynamic sculptural rhythm. What a privilege.

Materials: Copper coated steel, welded and spray painted