Imaginary Mom
Imaginary
Mom
Who was my mother?
Who could she be?
What did she look like?
Did she look like me?
What did I inherit?
Her eyes?
Her mouth?
Her face?
It’s a mystery that I carry
It’s a mystery that follows
Using my imagination
My imagination that draws the body of my mother
Who was my mother?
Who could she be?
What did she look like?
Did she look like me?
Design Academy Eindhoven
Graduation 2021
Print Peter van Ede/World Peace Advertisement
Assistent stylist Elisa Petit
With this project, I touched upon the subject of adoption. Adoption itself can be a complex and sensitive subject because it has many intricacies that come with it. When I was growing up, many questions were raised: ‘Where do I come from? Who were my parents, and who do I look like?'Since I am an adopted child, I used my imagination and inner child to draw and wonder what my biological mother could look like based on imaginative characteristics. I answered this question by creating multiple playful characters and captured this in a series of colorful portraits.
Serious
Mom
In my imagination
She is too serious
People might perceive her as cold
An old soul
A block of ice that hasn’t melt
With that serious face she puts on
In that mind
Is there something going on?
Dance
Mom
In my imagination
She is an energetic dancer
Her glittery make up
Her sparkly fringy dress
Shaking from side
The women that’s ‘stayin’ a live’
Not even embarrassed by her wild moves
Everyone wants to be part of her groove
Nigerian Mom
In my imagination
She is a Nigerian Queen
Who is the greatest
The mightiest of them all
A heart of gold, confidence from head to toe
She obviously knows how to pull off a show
Her beautiful eye
Her plump lips
A dazzling blue dress
She parades the world like a goddess
Fairy
Mom
In my imagination
She is a lively fairy
Flying around with her lovely wings
High so high in the sky.
She is is living her dream
Thats why.
Eyes that big
And her lips that makes you wanting to be kissed
With a dress that makes her like a flower
A beautiful flower
That is could never be missed.
Witty
Mom
In my imagination
She is witty
Before you know it
She already had her go
With her brainy jokery
Jumping along with her funny face
And colourful dress
With her two little dinosaur friends
On her side.
Chaotic
Mom
In my imagination
She can be chaotic
Forgetful at times
With the expression
“I don’t know where to find it, I don’t know what to do”
Messy hair
Like it hasn’t been combed for ages
She might come off a bit strange.
Half dressed up
Half in pyjamas
With her untied shoes on
How is she able to manage herself like this all day long?
Life size mothers! (Coming soon!!)
Prints - Peter van Ede / World Peace Advertisement
Photographer - Elisa Petit
Styling assistant - Eliott Tsaramaro