before matrescence
2026 - ongoing
stainless steel, archival inkjet print
2026 - ongoing
stainless steel, archival inkjet print
Matrescence, like adolescence, marks the profound transition of becoming a mother. It is a shift that is as much psychological as it is biological. While discourse around matrescence is growing, the conversation often neglects the internal reckoning that precedes the decision to conceive. In a series of intimate self-portraits made with her partner, the artist uses a prosthetic belly to perform a pregnancy that does not yet exist.
Simulated during a life stage largely defined by its reproductive potential, this exercise imagines a transformation before it occurs and reframes matrescence as a mental state to considered in the present. How do we make sense of the gap between the biological design of the body and the desires of the self in today’s society? These images seek to visualise the tension of standing on that threshold, exploring the weight of a decision before it is ever made.
This work was first presented in a group show titled 'entanglements' at Objectifs Lower Galleries between 31 Jul - 30 Aug 2026. More information here.
Installation of Before Matrescence at Objectifs Lower Galleries. Image courtesy of Toni Cuhadi.
