Rebirth
By Lily Mae Martin
105 x 75cm
Ink on paper
2016
Rebirth is a meditation on the identity shifts that occur in a woman after the
act of giving birth.
Birth is a physical experience that may be simultaneously extraordinary and
traumatic. Motherhood is central to a traditional understanding of female
identity; at the same time, the physical implications and complications of birth
work in direct opposition to contemporary female beauty standards that play a
role in reinforcing those same social roles and responsibilities.
The woman in this drawing kneels naked, but it is not a pose of submission.
She leans forward as if poised to stand, her hands gripping her thighs. The
face, usually the primary source of emotional expression, is hidden, giving the
naked body space to speak. The woman’s breasts and stomach draw the
viewer’s focus, representations of both sexuality and motherhood and the
complicated relationship between the two. The scarring across her belly,
incurred from a pregnancy injury and usually hidden from sight, recalls
physical distress and trauma, but also speaks to experience, knowledge,
strength and resilience.
Here are some pictures of the work in progress:
So this is my final piece for 2016! What a year it has been. I have a whole lot of things planned for 2017 – experiments and a residency and new small works.
Thank you to everyone for your interest and support and sharing my work.
All the best for 2017
LMM xx
01, ink on paper, 15x19cm 
02, ink on paper, 18x25cm
03, ink on paper, 18x25cm
04, ink on paper, 18x25cm
05, ink on paper, 18x25cm
