MOTHERHOOD

Oil on canvas
103 x 123 cm

Motherhood was one of the first works in this series, created during a period of deep self-reflection on my roles as a mother, daughter, and grandmother. I imagined myself at the centre of a Venn diagram, navigating the delicate intersections of caring for my elderly mother living with dementia, supporting my three grown children in a rapidly changing world, and passing on wisdom and memory to my granddaughter, Madeline, who was just about to start school at the time.

I often observed the quiet, unspoken bond between my mother and Maddy. Their relationship wasn’t built on long conversations or advice, but on presence — a gentle, wordless connection. I found myself wondering if this was because my mother, unshaped by modern distractions, offered a kind of attention that’s become rare — calm, patient, and deeply engaged. Perhaps her quiet strength awakened something instinctive in Maddy — an early sense of empathy and care.

I began photographing and sketching their moments together, realising how often mothers are the unseen ones behind the camera — the documenters rather than the documented. This awareness became the seed of Motherhood.

Though not a self-portrait, the work represents the universal presence of the mother — familiar, timeless, and layered with memory. Her hood becomes a metaphor for memory itself, like an ancient device that stores her experiences. The eyes at the sides of her head suggest both vigilance and preservation — always watching, always holding space. She is a wife and a sensual being, though the demands of motherhood often blur those identities. Yet, within the chaos, there remain fleeting moments where she consciously reclaims her feminine self.

Completing this piece ignited a desire to explore the evolving nature of motherhood — its instinct, intimacy, and endurance — alongside the growing influence of artificial intelligence. This painting became the foundation for a broader conversation about what it means to nurture, remember, and connect in a world increasingly mediated by technology.