Motherhood
Road to Nowhere
Reaction
This body of work describes my journey into becoming a parent. I focus on the struggle I have found in identifying myself apart from my role as a mother and in navigating my experience being a plus size single mom. The moment a woman gives birth she dies to be reborn again into a new version of herself, as a mother. It gives you a strength within yourself, and a sense of purpose and meaning in your life. Motherhood is overwhelming, it's emotional, it’s exhausting. It's labeling yourself as a mom and sometimes forgetting who you really are, who you were before. Through both performance and observation, I use the camera as a way to sort through my feelings and anxieties. I dive into the complex relationship between myself and my daughter but also how I feel about my identity and how I view my body. Putting myself in front of the camera allows me to confront the negative emotions I have surrounding my body image. It is in many ways uncomfortable for me and the viewer but what the vulnerability does is open the conversation that bodies like mine are worthy of acceptance. My photographs demonstrate a level of strength I wish to share with my audience. Motherhood is about pushing past the restraints of conforming to society, and expanding the notion of what a family can look like. Everyone has a road to motherhood and this is mine.