MonstersThis project is a series of handmade collages inspired by the idea of Maternal Imagination. This concept, common in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, linked many cases of birth defects to the belief that a mother's thoughts during pregnancy could influence her baby's development, causing congenital disorders. Historical texts show that people thought a pregnant woman startled by a frog might have a baby with webbed fingers or toes, or a frog-like head. Similarly, staring at an image of Christ might result in a baby born with a beard.

During this time, any child born with a disability was often blamed solely on the mother. The theory suggested that women had a greater impact than men on their children's biological traits. This idea might have been a way to address the father's role in the birth of a disabled child.

These collages visually explore Maternal Imagination, highlighting the historical and cultural beliefs about the female body during pregnancy and childbirth in early modern Europe.
Released: 2019-2022
Material: Handmade collage