Bert Hermans - ABUSED

Artist and 'Master of Realism' Bert Hermans created this painting after visiting Clémont (Cher, France) in September 2022. During this visit, he took a trip with friends to Bourges. On the way, he encountered an abandoned building complex in Presly, which he had visited earlier in 2021, visible here through a hole in the wall revealing the chapel. The chapel, which is more clearly visible in other paintings from this series, is still in fairly good condition. The space next to the chapel, where the priest-director probably used to reside, is in a very dilapidated state. Through the hole in the wall, we see a table with a book titled 'Abusés'. This book compiles testimonies from victims of sexual abuse committed by priests. All these testimonies speak of the difficulty in speaking out, the limited freedom of expression, and the acceptance of their situation as victims—not only by the Catholic institution but also by their loved ones, starting with their family.
The school was founded in 1920 and served as both a boys' school and orphanage, operated by the Oblates of the Sacred Heart. Later, in 2009, the building became a religious institution comprising a private school, college, and secondary school.
In 2017, the school was closed by order of Justice due to, among other things, abuse by the priest-director and some staff members of pupils, as well as fraud.