Artist Statement
Life is shaped by both small and vivid memories that form our core experiences. I am particularly interested in the fleeting moments that influence and define our lives. One of the ways these moments manifest is through the physical body, which often dictates how we experience the world. Bodies, especially fat bodies, are frequently marginalized, leading to social isolation and exclusion from societal structures. Those of us who are fat are constantly reminded that we don't fit into the idealized image of the body. This exclusion is reinforced by shame, which plays a central role in perpetuating fatphobia in society.
While shame is often associated with significant life events, I believe it’s the small, everyday moments that are most insidious in internalizing fatphobia. These subtle instances of shame are easily overlooked, especially by those with thinner bodies. Have you ever worried whether a chair would hold your weight? Or wondered if a team shirt would fit? Or been unsure about which snack to choose to avoid public ridicule? These are the daily experiences I explore through my work, considering how such moments shape our worldviews and influence our self-perceptions and identities.
Our bodies move in and out of visibility depending on the setting and the people around us. My work is both a personal exploration and a broader inquiry into how a fat person navigates the world. Discovering fat studies has given me a language to articulate these experiences, helping me and others make sense of the subtle, often invisible, challenges we face. I hope my art encourages others to question societal norms around body size and to rethink how those norms affect the lives of fat individuals.
Alongside body size, my work also delves into family dynamics. Specifically, I explore the journey of motherhood and the unrealistic social expectations placed on women’s bodies. I focus on the process of mothering a daughter while simultaneously re-identifying myself as an autonomous woman. Motherhood, while rewarding, can also be overwhelming and exhausting. I use the camera as a tool to navigate my emotional landscape and to explore the complexities of my experience. Mothers carry the responsibility of shaping their children’s worldviews, which are often formed through interactions with their maternal figures. This can be daunting, as we must consider which traits, coping mechanisms, and ideologies we are passing down through generations.
Children, like adults, come in all shapes and sizes, and they are either taught to love or hate their bodies. The way society perceives and values our bodies is directly linked to our size, and this perception impacts how we see ourselves. My images reflect my personal journey, using performance for the camera to create a visual narrative that explores the intersection of motherhood and body image.
I am deeply interested in how the social expectations of motherhood intersect with the unrealistic standards placed on women’s bodies. The term “motherhood” itself carries with it a set of social expectations and structures that I seek to question and redefine. How should motherhood be understood in today’s society? Why is the traditional role of women so slow to evolve? Hyperfemininity should not be the standard representation of those who identify as female. Throughout history, the female body has been worshipped—often to the point of exploitation. In today’s society, it is commodified, sexualized in advertisements, and scrutinized for its appearance. These societal pressures have led to a lack of confidence, with individuals fixated on perceived imperfections.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why is so much energy devoted to caring about others’ opinions? And most importantly, how can we change this? Can better representation of women’s bodies shift perspectives, given that the problems stem from outdated ideals? The only way to find out is to try. It is my generation’s responsibility to reclaim and redefine the symbolic image of the mother and child. We must take care to see and honor those who feel unseen.