Be Still (Transformative)

Be still embodies the complexities of my role as ‘mother’ and my only child as ‘daughter’. The work speaks to the of the act of seeing and the duality of perception. Her first-time explorations and observation reconceptualizing my understanding of fragility, death and beauty. Objects in the images were taken from many of our meaningful interactions with nature, which I have reframed into narrative tableaus. Many that contain insects and florals which are inherently ephemeral.

This artistic practice has allowed me to reflect on my own childhood experiences, both the trauma and the wonder. The circular framing present in many if the pieces and the subject matter evokes Victorian aesthetic traditions. These shapes also have no beginning or end; they reference the cycles that govern women's lives—my life and now hers.

The words ‘be still’, refer to the phrase ‘be still my heart’ which speaks to the visceral feeling of awe I have as I bear witness to her fleeting childhood experiences. The phrase is also an irony, for the ability of a child to be physically still is difficult, as children are unconcerned with past or future but live immersed fully in the present moment. A force that cannot be contained. This concept is addressed in the many examples where subjects extend beyond their prescribed frames.

2017 - 2024