The Maternal Body

A mother’s body gradually forms over time. One might argue that it starts moulding from the moment we are born. Pregnancy, childbirth and the act of mothering are intertwined with wider societal conditions that are founded upon rooted norms and expectations. Being caught in between the visible and invisible, mothers, and therefore mothering, are frequently overlooked and thus remain in this vast gap. There are many artists, institutions and festivals that celebrate pregnancy and birth, yet it is crucial to note how the maternal body is rarely presented as a reproductive subject within the discourse. Usually, it remains within numerous metaphors of creativity and change, abandoning the source and maternal origin.

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In addition, the bodily experiences of the maternal transition disrupt familiar understandings of embodiment. Through tracing the movement of transformation, the concept of the individual becomes suspicious. This research is an ongoing enquiry concerning the maternal body and the political position it raises. Where does the performance of the mother-self lie? How does one relate to the maternal self whilst generating other embodied selves? Out of a necessity to reclaim space within this personal venture, this project proposes a new angle to unfold the sociopolitical impact on the maternal body and reimagine the understanding of (maternal) embodiment.