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Alexandra Carter: The Mother Shell from Alexandra Carter
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I paint the female body in states of transformation—pregnancy, birth, postpartum—to reveal the visceral realities of motherhood. I want to know how this experience consumes, ruptures, and remakes the self. I’m drawn to the monstrous feminine—the reproductive body as both feared and revered, vola
- Alexandra Carter
- Incantation, 2023
- Ink on drafting film
- 46.5 x 44.5 in
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$3,000
This piece evokes a profound sense of loss, particularly the loss of the mother. The monstrous feminine takes shape here, as the maternal figure transforms into a creature with tentacle-like limbs and a hypoxic, blue-tinged hue. This transformation explores the duality of the mother as both nurturing and otherworldly, embodying both absence and presence.
I also drew inspiration from the mythological figure of Lilith, a demoness often depicted as a threat to babies and childbirth, yet also revered as a symbol of female power and autonomy. Historically, incantations—magical prayers or spells—were used to ward off her perceived malevolence. This interplay between fear and reverence underscores the tension between loss and resilience, motherhood and independence, embodied in this work.