Fraud Blocker
Donate

Good Lord, leave your mother alone

Mikaela Martin
event-detail-person-vertical
Mikaela Martin
This event has concluded
Dates: -
Location: Paddington Reservoir Gardens 251-255 Oxford St Paddington NSW 2026 Australia
Hours:
Entry Fee: Free
Genres: Portrait

“Good Lord, leave your mother alone,” he said under his breath, hoping they might hear.

My daughters and I meet on a battlefield between love and resentment. The last two years – when a room of one’s own has never felt possible – have tested and deepened many familial relationships.

I used to hold the naïve notion that I’d be a ‘natural’ mother. I never expected to lose myself and my patience to motherhood or for the ‘maternal’ to taste so sour at times. It didn’t take long to feel like I was failing us.

Through photography, something I have been begging to do ‘alone’, I gained a means to understand and move through this experience. I led myself away from resentment towards love, expansion and wonder.

These observations of my daughters and their everyday environment (my in-laws’ Florida house) reflect my state of mind, both intentionally and unconsciously. The scattered colour represents the flush of hormones incurred by pregnancy, birth and the scent of my child’s skin.

Want to view this Gallery?

Create a free account or log in to see content exclusive to account holders.

Mikaela Martin

Based in South Florida, Australian-born Mikaela Martin is a self-taught photographer whose background in film and theatre informs many aspects of her work. She explores childhood and family life narratives, the idea that in our youth, we have an uncomplicated, illuminating relationship with life’s elusive unknowns.

Martin’s work has been recognised by The Documentary Family Awards, Palm Photo Prize, and The Australian Photography Awards.

She has exhibited throughout the US and at FORMAT Festival (UK). She has recently also received commissions from Apple and the Gates Foundation.

She was a guest judge for the 2021 Documentary Family Awards and is a member of Women Photograph, a non-profit dedicated to the elevation of women’s photojournalism.

This event has concluded
Dates: -
Location: Paddington Reservoir Gardens 251-255 Oxford St Paddington NSW 2026 Australia
Hours:
Entry Fee: Free
Genres: Portrait

Related events

SujataSetia-6944_resize

Narratives of womanhood

  • Featured event
View details

Featured Event & Exhibition

Rod and Dave’s summer party

  • Head On Photo Festival 2022
View details
Australian Photojournalists-56538-29587-119873

Paper Tigers 23

  • Featured exhibition
View details

RCM inspired compositions for the Head On Photo Awards

  • Featured event
View details

Head On Photo Awards semi-finalists 2022

  • Head On Photo Festival 2022
View details

Head On Photo Festival launch and announcement of winners

  • Featured event
View details
BondiPromenade2021

Latest in! Sony photo walk

  • Featured event
View details

Head On at 107

  • Head On Photo Festival 2022
View details

The Good Room exhibition opening

  • Head On Photo Festival 2022
View details

UnFuck exhibition opening

  • Head On Photo Festival 2022
View details
whatson-img01
Stephen Godfrey

Head On in a day

Australia's world-leading photography festival once again filters photography down to its finest. The great thing is that Head On's main venues at Bondi and Paddington are just a bus ride away.

Browse the festival program
bg-ctap-mobile bg-ctap-desktop

Explore the festival

Enthralling. Enchanting. Extraordinary. Discover exceptional photography for free around Sydney during the festival 8 Nov–1 Dec 2024

See full program
Image detail: Andrea Agostini