Private Sphere was originally inspired by the upcoming birth of my third niece. As I contemplated the wonder of another whole new person emerging into the world I sketched out some pregnant women and the pose that kept suggesting itself became Private Sphere.
I am interested in the sculptural appeal of the shape of pregnancy, both in terms of the figure herself, and the way a woman holds her body, accommodating and protecting the presence of the soon-to-be-born baby.
This is my first wool sculpture made in high relief (the sculpture pushes out from a flat plane, as opposed to being a freestanding sculpture.) Marble is the traditional material for this style of sculpture, in which versions of the Virgin and Child figure prominently. By using felted wool with a nod to the historical use of marble I wanted to draw attention to the contradictions I observe that go along with pregnancy: a sense of fragility, but also sheer physical toughness; the relatively short-term physical changes that bring about a life-long change; and the suddenly fuzzy line between the public and private in terms of one's personal body and other people.
The last topic is one that intrigues me. From numerous accounts I've learned that when you're pregnant, complete strangers feel free to put their hands on your belly and discuss what would normally be considered very intimate physical detailsand in the political sphere, make declarations and decisions about what you may and may not do with your body. It bears more consideration...
