My body of work is characterized by the desire to truly explore the concept of female sacrifice, a concept that is often unnoticed and underappreciated, yet omnipresent across history, mythology, and domestic life. The core of my exhibition draws inspiration from philosopher Anne Dufourmantelle’s categorization of feminine sacrifices into three archetypes represented in my works—the Young Girl, the Lover, and the Mother—this collection brings to the forefront the different categories of sacrifice, emphasizing its ability to transcend any age or group.

I leaned heavily towards the use of traditional art forms such as embroidery as well as traditional symbols of femininity such as doilies and flowers. These symbols play a crucial role in the narrative of my pieces, particularly in solidifying the nucleus of femininity. Additionally, they are steeped in the history of domesticity, symbolizing the roles women are and have been expected to fulfill. However, my intention was to employ these elements in a subversive manner, aiming for my works to challenge and reinterpret these symbols, turning them into powerful statements about the abandonments of their own livelihoods and desires women are forced to make. Also heavily present in my works is a hyper feminine color scheme, which further emphasizes the focus on femininity. In For the Winds, the aggressive hot pink color, never used in traditional iconography emphasizes that this screenprint is a subversion of Iphigenia’s story and the portrayal of women in iconography. These colors aspire to draw the viewer's attention to the ways in which sacrifices are ingrained into the foundation of womanhood.

The concepts explored in my exhibition are both deeply personal yet also a shared experience of all women. Influenced by the sacrifices witnessed in the lives of my mother and grandmother, both of whom were housewives, I wanted to convey that their experiences of giving up personal dreams and autonomy in the service of family life have not gone unseen. They are echoed in the artworks that represent the Mother archetype, such as Pocket Altar and Wedding Day. These works pay homage to the often-unseen sacrifices of motherhood, elevating everyday acts to a sacred status through the use of traditional symbols like the olive wreath and religious pendants.

The exhibition space itself is designed to reinforce ideas of both heroic and unheroic sacrifice, with artworks displayed in a manner reminiscent of a domestic setting—using old, grandmotherly frames and plinths. This arrangement not only ties the works together conceptually but also visually situates them in the realm of the home, a space historically associated with women and their sacrifices. The interconnectedness of the pieces is further emphasized by their consistent use of color and symbolism, such as the recurring motif of doilies, which links the different works together.

The visual impact of the exhibition has been purposely created to engage the viewer on multiple levels. Confronting imagery, such as menstruation in In Plain Thread, severed heads in Daughter Bride, and mutilated torsos in Everywoman, paired with bold, vibrant colors, is intended to provoke a strong emotional response. This visceral reaction is key to the experience, forcing the viewer to confront the often-overlooked harsher aspects of female sacrifice. The use of bold and hyper feminine aesthetics challenges traditional perceptions of

femininity, encouraging viewers to reconsider their preconceived notions about the roles and sacrifices of women.

Through this body of work, I aim to bring to light the countless sacrifices women have made, sacrifices that have often gone unseen and unappreciated, symbolised by allegorical figures, namely Divine Hysteria, For My Dear Brother and Balance. By acknowledging these acts of sacrifice—whether they are the abandonment of personal identity, the endurance of physical pain, or the silent suffering in the domestic sphere—I hope to convey both the historical continuity of these sacrifices and the urgent need to break the cycle. My intention is for the audience to leave with a deeper understanding of the strength and resilience inherent in the female experience, and to recognize the necessity of reexamining and valuing the sacrifices that have shaped the lives of countless women throughout history.