Hidden Motherhood

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Olya
Dasha
Veronika
Masha
«Yulya»from the series «Hidden Motherhood»Russia, 2019
Katya
Nadya
«Dasha»from the series «Hidden Motherhood»by Alena Zhandarova2018
«Ira»from the series «Hidden Motherhood»by Alena Zhandarova2019
«Kseniya»from the series «Hidden Motherhood»Russia, 2019
alena mini
Vera
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Hidden Motherhood

2018-2019

Becoming a mother might be commonplace, but some aspects of motherhood still remain off-limits when the subject is discussed. During the Victorian era, for example, babies were often photographed alongside their mothers, with the latter covered up. The mother was still there, in the picture, but the viewer was encouraged not to see her. (This practice was a way of keeping babies still during unavoidably long exposures.)    

It’s also suggested that, from a social point of view, mothers were not considered worthy of attention, especially when compared to their child. A lot of women feel the same. There is a sense of being hidden behind a veil, behind their children. It’s almost as if they have turned into a set of functions and are waiting to wake up and show their faces again. But who will decide when the time is right, and whose hand will reveal the face?

2021 PhEST, International Photography and Art Festival, Monopoli, Italy
2020 Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition
2020 Interview for Ze.tt magazine
2020 Plain magazine
2020 Finalist of Zeiss Photography Awards
2019 Interview for Ladnebebe.pl, Poland