PARENTHOOD
NOUN.
1. “The state of becoming a parent and the mundane responsibilities involved.”2. “A collection of activities through which one discovers the true meaning of life.” After falling pregnant in Summer 2023 Kim enrolled at art college as a way to retain some creative focus despite the anticipation, and all the preparations, that come with expecting a baby.
Knowing she would give birth half way through her final assessment, she chose to focus on ‘The Creative Act’ – looking at how the impact of undergoing her matrascence would effect her artwork.
With a certain degree of familiarity, textiles naturally became the most accommodating medium for her in the early days of child rearing. Sewing meant she could create around the baby, in bed, and in a constantly interrupted state. (The reasons for it’s association with womankind now made very obvious sense.)
The 3 tapestries produced in this time focus on universal themes and emotional states which Kim attributed to the personal, internal upheaval, she faced post-partum. Through her work Kim hoped that others may recognize, and take solace in the fact, that despite being undervalued and prosaic, becoming a mother is inherently a metaphysical, complex, extremely difficult and profoundly meaningful undertaking.
