Home Truths
So there we have it. Â Motherhood is back in play and it’s not just sex, bumps and boobs. There are also scars and tears and honesty. Â Motherhood is hard. Â Not being a mother is hard. Wanting to be a mother is hard.
 Untitled, 2012 by Hannah Putz.
The culmination of curator Susan Bright’s PhD was a comprehensive exhibition taking place over two venues at The Photographers’ Gallery and The Foundling Museum with an accompanying book published by Art Books. Â The issues she raises are poignant, real and yet still controversial to some; probably those who have not gone through the very intimate and personal experiences portrayed in the show. Â From the emotional shock of parenthood, to physical exertion, to the pain of not conceiving, to not knowing who your mother is, to dealing with your mother’s mental demise, this exhibition hits us where it hurts.
That’s not to say that it isn’t also a celebration of motherhood. Â As if, by being honest, the artists are saying they don’t love being mothers (or love their mothers) – it is evident that they do. Â It is their life and their being. Â But motherhood is an all encompassing role and it’s encouraging for me to see this being acknowledged in two central venues in the capital.
Someone asked me if I related to the work as a mother and I suppose I do and I don’t. Â If I had to take away an aphorism from this show it is that motherhood is a complex and individual path. Â There are as many experiences of motherhood as there are mothers so although this show highlighted and gave voice to many issues that are still worryingly taboo, in it’s variety it validates the individual.
From the series Annunciation by Elina Brotherus.
If someone asked me the different question of what work I liked most I would say that Elina Brotherus’ Annunciation stayed with me in a strong way.
In her series the Annunciation Elina Brotherus (b. 1972, Finland) records herself through years of failed IVF treatments. Full of art historical references, Brotherus’ images stand in sharp contrast to the traditional scenes and symbolism of Annunciation paintings. While the Virgin Mary receives the news that she is to give birth to the son of God, Brotherus pictures herself month after month in-front of a succession of negative pregnancy tests. Feelings of elation and abundance are replaced with those of sorrow and loss. Brotherus’ photographs question the term ‘mother’, suggesting that it can stem from intention rather than being bound to biology or the physical act of having a child.
The Photographers’ Gallery
The night before the opening I had been to Ikea and bought two white shelves for my daughters’ bedroom. Â When I saw Elina’s work (her beautifully framed and almost fragile images were leaning against the wall on low shelves) I was struck with the pain of the contrast. Â Perhaps the overall effect stayed with me because her experience spoke so strongly to my inexperience. Â Not only are the images beautiful and fitting but the vulnerability and bravery of her as a person is demonstrated in this delicately considered and pensive installation.
At the opening one thing I thought as I looked around was how photography brings people together. Â Motherhood does the same thing. Â Stories of our own experiences of motherhood and of our own mothers could keep us talking for hours. Â And that’s just what was happening, both at the opening and in our little discussion table over lunch.
This is Sharon’s piece following the study visit she led last Saturday. Two students have already blogged their responses, so I have copied the links to them below:
Jan http://janfairburnoca.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/home-truths-photography-and.html
Amano http://amanostudy.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/home-truths-photography-and-motherhood/
If there are students who would like to attend a future study visit to this thought provoking exhibition, please email enquiries@oca-uk.com and we will see what can be arranged.
This exhibition struck me as rather North American-European in context which is limiting for such a universal theme as motherhood.
Someone posted a link on my blog to their work which I like more than most of the stuff in the exhibition.
The video is here …
http://vimeo.com/74476108
The photos here …
http://www.alvarezerrecalde.com/index.php?/projects-proyectos/birth-of-my-daughter—el-nacimiento-de-mi-hija/
These are unbelievably strong images and sentiments. Thanks for sharing them, Amano.
Thanks Amano. Reminds me of a less subtle version of the Reneke Dijkstra project of mothers after giving birth.
I have seen images from that series … excellent work in my view … might it not have been included?
It might be interesting to compare and contrast this show:
http://photoworks.org.uk/projects/jerwood-encounters-curated-by-photoworks/
There was a discussion of this exhibition on Woman’s Hour today (monday 21’st of October) … another insight … starts after about 10 minutes and runs for 10 minutes! Interviews two of the artists … http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03dff15
Some interesting (and lengthy!) blogs. I can’t comment without seeing the exhibition for myself, but imagine i would feel a similar mix of emotions as the bloggers. I do think it is important that this topic is focused on in an art exhibition.Perhaps if there was more art showing the diversity within the theme of motherhood there could be an even wider discussion. I remember a while ago applying for a Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland) grant and being turned down. The feedback said my proposal was too personal and that I should not mention I had children. Can you believe it? More exhibitions like this can only be a good thing.
Surely the point is that art has to be personal, even if you are ‘rather North American-European in context’. Is all about context, isn’t it?
My criticism is not aimed at the photographers rather then curator who actively chose to use images by photographer’s known to her rather than work by others who might be producing excellent work from elsewhere. We live in a global world and motherhood is spread across the planet … surely work from, for instance, China, might have been included because it would show a different view of motherhood. For example, in Asia, you can still see mothers breast feeding on public transport while often their communities treat women about to give birth in a different way etc Maybe the objection here would be that this is travel photography rather than art photography … a problem of genre !?
Starry Bird, I think Armano’s point was that our attitudes and ideas, ie rather North American-European, towards Motherhood are not the only ones out there and that as not many other cultures were represented the exhibition could have been considered slightly limited :o)
Here’s a fascinating video of Susan Bright giving a lecture about the exhibition and ‘Selfie’s’! An interesting conflation http://vimeo.com/116187725