An artist who was seriously injured in a road crash in 2018 has had an artwork reflecting her experience accepted for a major exhibition.

Maria Jones says she wants to use her sculptures to raise awareness of the trauma and legal difficulties victims can face, sometimes for years, following the crash in which they were hurt.

She has dedicated her collection of carved granite pieces, named Inner Strength, to RoadPeace. The works have now been accepted for the Sussex Contemporary exhibition in Newhaven, opening on October 12.

Maria explained: “Following a road crash which left me unable to work, with multiple symptoms and registered as disabled I felt lost my eloquence. I now use sculpture to communicate.

“The medico-legal process carves us away so that we are unrecognisable from our pre-accident form, each of us being carved to differing degrees and ways depending on the severity of the accident and our personal circumstances.

“Just like the stones, which may appear strong but in fact are remarkably brittle, it is only through calling upon our inner strength that we, the innocent party, can make it to the end for the hope of justice.”

The exhibition opens on October 12 and runs until the 27th. Details here: www.thesussexcontemporary.co.uk/events/the-sussex-2024

Updated on: 15 October 2024