Vee Malnar
Gallery 3
Friday 18 August - 4 September 2022
My current work is an exploration of the experience of mothers and children in domestic situations. I take photographs as a starting point, and work from those to create a painting. The subject, the mother is central to the theme. Where once she operated more as a self-centred being, by becoming a mother she now devotes most of her time to her children.
Mothering is a social construct, one that is re-evaluated and over time given new meaning. I am concerned with the issues mothers face within the cultural context. I explore associations with mothering, how women are meant to be โgoodโ and โwell behavedโ in order to be acceptable mothers in society. I also look at the tasks, routines, and day-to-day chores mothers undertake. Mothers are often multi-tasking and doing so many things for their family. Given that many women experience a range of normal to extremely difficult setbacks, including: postnatal depression, homelessness, single mothering and even domestic violence; how can women be โgoodโ mothers within this context? How do we define what is good? And how does societyโs view of the good mother restrict or condemn women? Why are mothers placed on a pedestal, and yet so easily brought down?
In terms of identity, the mother is someone other than a caretaker. She needs time for herself, time out from the kids, time to process and reflect upon the meaning of her place in her own family and the world at large.
As a society we need to reflect upon this construct and allow the viewer to ask questions, to contribute to the continuing discourse and to determine their own course.
As a society we need to recognize and respond to a social construct that constrains and often binds women at a time when they need to be empowered.
Image: Vee Malnar, Multi-Tasking, 2022.