Hello beautiful bizarre friend and welcome to Issue 49 with legendary street artist D*Face’s moving work ‘Love Hurts’ on the cover. This issue has sold out in print but you can still download the digital magazine here.
Enjoy our Editor-in-Chief’s Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 49
This cover hits hard – to me it speaks to the ever-present, unrelenting epidemic of violence against women. In 2024, the Australian Prime Minister called it what it is — a national crisis. Despite the nationwide rallies, desperate pleas for change, government funding, and new programs, the reality is devastating: the number of women killed in gender-based violence continues to increase. It’s hard not to feel frustrated, angry, and deeply saddened that despite our efforts, the numbers keep rising. More than 100 Australian women died because of male violence in 2024.
Family violence and/or intimate partner violence is the leading cause of serious injury, disability and death for women in Australia. On average, one woman a week is killed by her intimate male partner.
“Family violence and/or intimate partner violence is the leading cause of serious injury, disability and death for women in Australia. On average, one woman a week is killed by her intimate male partner.” [White Ribbon Australia]. And “First Nations women are more than 33 times more likely to be hospitalised, and 6 times more likely to die from assault related to family violence than non-Indigenous women.” [Australian Government].
Unfortunately, this is not just an Australian crisis. The same pattern is seen in all countries around the world — it is heartbreaking. Every woman and girl deserves to live a life free of violence! So why are these numbers increasing? I think we need systemic and drastic cultural and sociopolitical change to start seeing these numbers fall. This starts with awareness, recognition, responsiveness.
This one impactful cover artwork makes us think and interrogate our own feelings and values regarding those affected by violence – the victims and the perpetrators. We can ask ourselves WHY, and what we can do to support one another. This is the power and importance of art. Now more than ever, with a dramatically changing and unstable world we need art to shine a light into the darkness and hold a mirror up to our societies. So we are forced to look, and demand change!
This is the power and importance of art. Now more than ever, with a dramatically changing and unstable world we need art to shine a light into the darkness and hold a mirror up to our societies. So we are forced to look, and demand change!
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Exhibitions
By the time you’re reading this, our first exhibition of 2025, Dreamland Awaits, will have just come to a close at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. If you didn’t get the chance to see it in person, you can still explore the full show online through the gallery’s website — it’s well worth a look. Our second exhibition of the year will open in October at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY. This show will feature the winners of the 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize.
So until next time, I hope you enjoy the read of this inspiring issue, and as always thank you for your support of our independent magazine! We couldn’t do it without you.
If you are anyone you know is suffering abuse or violence, below are just a few organisations that can assist: AUS: 1800 737 732 www.1800respect.org.au | USA: (800) 799-7233 www.thehotline.org | UK: 0808 2000 247 www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk. For other countries please search the internet for local services.
Much Love xo
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
