Reframing the 'sentimental' in the art of the maternal (uncovering the power of 'sentimental' art)

About

We rarely see motherhood and the maternal, outside of their idealistic depictions. A taboo continues to surround the art of the maternal where it is often considered to be, too “sentimental” to be interesting, due to it’s subjective nature. The Patriarchal discourse that early feminists engaged with, in the 1960’s and 70’s, where pregnancy and therefore motherhood should not and must not be seen, unless mediated through the male gaze, persists in many ways today. Artists who are mothers are under-represented within the art world on every level, and opportunities for them are few, and limited. The frequently held belief that you cannot be a (good) artist AND a (good) mother is often perpetuated by women artists ourselves. But our subjective “sentimental” maternal experiences are significant and powerful, and resonate with value. They become a huge part of our lived experience, which in turn feeds back into the work we make. These subjective and sentimental experiences need to be represented and validated both in the art world and further afield. The workshops will seek to engage with this by making powerful and compelling art on our own terms, therefore reframing the subjective “sentimentality” of maternal art. The workshops’ culmination will result in an informal open day at Platform 1 Gallery.