Motherhood
“The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that – a parent’s heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.”
Debra Ginsberg
Motherhood is a difficult topic in that it is fraught with many prejudices, constraints and clichés. Nevertheless, it is a relevant topic in the current socio-political discourse on women's employment, the shortage of skilled workers and old-age provision, but also with regard to the increasing psychological problems among children and young people.
In my painting "The mother's perspective" a small child is looking intensively at the viewer, who adopts the mother's position. A dark area hides the woman's head removing her personality and allowing the viewer to identify with her. The only characteristic remaining from the mother is her strong holding arm.
Being a mother is a constant fight, we struggle and stand up again. A lot of strength is needed to demarcate outer expectations and to allow for our own path, sharing our life with our children.
My children are precious to me. I want to share my time with them. See how they grow. Hear what they think. Be there when they leave.
I strive to create paintings that evoke a sense of awareness for the precious, transient moments in the life of a mother. A soft touch, a shy smile, gone if we are too busy to realise them.
