cutting ties would never break or bond (2024)
Graduation work Willem de Kooning Academy, Bachelor Fine Arts: Photography
cutting ties would never break or bond is a series of self-portraits about generational trauma in mother-child relationships, and finding closure through acceptance and sympathy.
For many generations, the cycle of generational trauma that had been passed on in my family’s female line was often left undiscussed. Shaped by shame, silence, and rejection and having experienced the relationship between me and my mother as a triggering one, I have often considered cutting ties. Having started this project to find the source of my dynamics, I not only realized breaking the cycle was never about shedding scars, but accepting its influence on my life and how I dealt with its consequences signified whether I was continuing the cycle or breaking it. By photographing myself in nature with an umbilical cord - both alone and with my mother - I was not only able to express the desire for a sense of belonging, but through photography, we were able to break the silence that had been lying upon us for years.
This work was part of the Willem de Kooning Academy Graduation Show 2024