Second Moment I

 “My children cause me the most exquisite suffering of which I have any experience. It is the suffering of ambivalence: the murderous alternation between bitter resentment and raw-edged nerves, and blissful gratification and tenderness.” Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born.

Historically, motherhood has been seen more as a role than a relationship—a predefined character that women are expected to adopt, leaving behind their former selves to become a self-sacrificing, silent, and unconditionally loving figure. This complex and deeply personal experience is often reduced to an archetype, leaving little room for the flesh and blood mother to express feelings that deviate from the ideal.

I began the series The Second Moment shortly after the birth of my first son. While the work is deeply rooted in my personal journey as a new mother, it also engages with the broader myths and fantasies surrounding motherhood. Using a highly stylized and narrative approach, the images explore the shifting boundaries between mother and child.