Mother

I wanted to create an Artefact around the archetype of mother. The concept of the mother to me was dark; negative; walls; needy; damned if I do, damned if I don’t; not being heard. My first layer is a circle container representing Mother Earth, Mother keepers and The Elders. Embracing the gifts of my mother. There were symbols that represented the negative perceptions and the unseen wounds of not being good enough, playing small, not heard etc. I also explored what needed healing - my own mothering, the fact that I was never a mother myself, honouring the mother image and the lineage of mothers before me. As the paint was drying on a layer, I found myself picking the blobs on the canvas, which reflected being picked on as a child by my mother. I smoothed it all over with paint to release it. I painted symbols that represented understanding my needs, establishing healthy boundaries, earth roots, wings of freedom, being centred and trusting my heart.

Acrylic on Canvas

60 x 60cm

2021