Artist Statement

This project was commissioned by Split/Shift Press at Darwin University to create a visual essay for a small risographic publication titled “Close to Home 2022”.

My intention in this work is to explore themes and relationships between breastfeeding-milkproduction-mother-baby-human-mammal, asking “Have I lost my humanity in the process of breastfeeding? Am I half human - half animal producing milk for my baby? What are all these emotions, feelings and hormones doing to me?” These questions gave me inspiration to start creating authentic work.

Searching for answers and meaning while holding a pencil, I started drawing a human-cow character who I felt identified with. I decided to go deeper and deeper. I kept drawing this cow-human character in different scenarios while breastfeeding. I decided to go wild and free until I felt completely mesmerised by the process of making art. This journey took me to my final production: a messy, arty, wild collage of a human-cow character breastfeeding her baby.

I hope this creative work can reach out to other women. This work aims to create spaces where thoughts, feelings and reflections about breastfeeding could unfold, openly and free.