A new queen stands tall over downtown Vancouver, and she has something to say.

The queen is the central figure of the Wall for Women, a new mural painted by artist Ola Volo last month in partnership with the YWCA Metro Vancouver. The mural, located on the side of the Hyatt Regency hotel, sheds light on domestic violence and aims to raise funds for women leaving abuse.

Volo’s latest mural stays true to her iconic style, inspired by folk art from her Kazakh background. She uses intricate patterns and bold colour palettes to make her work pop, weaving flora, fauna and strong female characters into empowering yet whimsical visual stories.

The queen represents a survivor rising, reclaiming her power after leaving an abusive situation with her chin lifted toward the sky. She is gently commanding and infused with symbolism. She wears flames and lightning bolts representing her bravery and drive and a tall crown with all-seeing eyes atop her flowing, galactic hair. She is prominently juxtaposed against her shadow as a symbol of what she is leaving behind.

The artwork is striking enough to make passersby stop in their tracks. But at first glance, they may overlook the most unique aspect of the mural: hidden QR codes, subtly embedded into the overall artistic concept.

The QR codes, accessed by taking a picture with a smartphone, route to the YWCA’s website with statistics about domestic violence, resources, and supports. Including a link to donate to the organization’s new housing project for women who have experienced abuse.

The interactive use of QR codes elevates the Wall for Women from artwork to a call to action. It wakes the community up to the pervasiveness of domestic violence and seeks donations for women’s housing, asking us to do something about it.

This is an incredibly important effort for women in Vancouver, where housing affordability, homelessness, and gender-based violence are major intersecting issues.

According to the YWCA, one in three women have experienced domestic violence in Canada, and a woman is killed every six days. Every. Six. Days. Let the gravity of that sink in. These are not just numbers. They are mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.

Intimate partner violence has also increased by 20-30% in some parts of the country during the pandemic. Lockdown measures keep women at home with their abusers, making it more difficult for them to leave and access support.

This rise in domestic abuse has been called COVID-19’s shadow pandemic—a fitting name as intimate partner violence often remains invisible despite its prevalence, discussed in hushed whispers if spoken about at all.

The mural stands in sharp contrast, challenging the hidden nature of domestic violence and forcing it into the public discourse. The sheer size of the mural, towering 42-feet above the street, loudly affirms survivors’ experiences and their visibility. It symbolically encourages women to take up the space they deserve.

The Wall for Women is more than just a mural with a message of hope. It recognizes that without action, hope is only wishful thinking. The fundraising commitment to fulfill the YWCA’s new housing project lends credibility to the mural’s message to survivors: that we see you, we care about you, and we’re here to support you as a community.

And because of that, it leaves me feeling a little bit more hopeful.

If you are experiencing violence or abuse by an intimate partner, please see this list of resources provided by the YWCA.