Mother of Boys
2014-2017
Mother of Boys is a portrait of my family taken over three years during the time I studied at Art School. The navigation of personalities created, my relationship with my children and the balancing act I performed daily. It was when I began my degree that I felt a sense of guilt in regard to my life choices, I was questioned subjectively and rhetorically when people discovered I am a Mother. The simplest questions are the most painful, “How do you find the time?" and "You have children?" , in that moment I am engulfed with guilt as I attempt to defend my very being.
In an unconscious decision, I found myself abstaining from saying I had children as upon receiving this information, be it intentionally or not, standards on how I should act are imposed regardless of my own personality and impressions were inevitably changed.
Self portraits and moments captured included in this short series provide a window into my life during my three years at university. I may not regale talks of motherhood in a constant stream of consciousness but my children affect and inspire me greatly, they define who I am purely with their existence. My Sons will probably never know just how significant they are to me; they have my focus indefinitely. I am a Mother of Boys.
In an unconscious decision, I found myself abstaining from saying I had children as upon receiving this information, be it intentionally or not, standards on how I should act are imposed regardless of my own personality and impressions were inevitably changed.
Self portraits and moments captured included in this short series provide a window into my life during my three years at university. I may not regale talks of motherhood in a constant stream of consciousness but my children affect and inspire me greatly, they define who I am purely with their existence. My Sons will probably never know just how significant they are to me; they have my focus indefinitely. I am a Mother of Boys.