This exercise is repeated with objects from the father(s) and siblings and/or chosen family.

 

  • Find an object/ memorabilia/ photo/ audio recording or piece of music that you instinctively associate with mother/ mothers. Don’t think too long about the decision. Place this object in front of you.
  • Explore further: How and where do you see your mother, where can she be found in the object/ in your chosen, archived material, do you sense her memory? Is there a specific point in or on the object? Is it the whole object? Is it what the object represents? Is it the situation that can be seen on the object (if it is a photo, a video, an audio material)? Is it the situation in which you received the object?
  • How does your memory connect with the physical representation of the moment/situation depicted? Do you visualise it with your memory or is the emotion visible/feelable in you even without your memory?
  • Try to observe how you interact with the object. Objects can be touched and shaped/deformed (e.g. a ball can be squeezed, a piece of paper can be folded, crumpled or cut up). You can also start with a blank sheet of paper and work with it, how does the memory of your mum change the look and shape of the paper, can the paper become a physical representation of your mum, your relationship, a memory of your mother?
  • Would someone else recognise your mother in the selected archive material? Would you want someone else to recognise her? If so, how would you do this?
  • If you find a gesture or a physical movement towards the object, try to imitate this movement. Try to perform the movement more often and at different levels of intensity.
  • What images, thoughts/words/smells/tastes come to you when you perform the movement?
  • What does this movement, this gesture mean to you right now?
  • What does this movement, this gesture mean for your artistic practice, for your scientific work, for your everyday life?
  • In what form would you like to archive the information of this exploration process? Would you like to write it down, film it, draw it, record it or something else entirely?

 

AUTOSOZIOBIOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION