On Motherhood, Femininity and Female Friendships

Photography, Conversation

‘On Motherhood, Femininity and Female Friendships’ is the second collaborative project of two artists and close friends Linda Zhengová (b. 1995, Czech Republic) and Alex Blanco (b. 1988, Ukraine). In the same way as their first project, ‘Nothing Will Be The Same’ which shows artists’ mental state during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘On Motherhood, Femininity and Female Friendships’ also offers a glimpse into artists’ inner world and communicates the emotional state during the metamorphic life moments: from a young girl to a woman, from a woman to a mother and from a solitary, self-conscious person to a friend. The project was born out of a close connection between the two photographers, questions on what it means to be feminine and of a transformation of Alex Blanco from a woman to a mother. 

In the same way as mother and child share an intimate connection, so does friendship, moreover, female friendship. Being undermined and discriminated against by society, female friendship has been portrayed as something superficial and not as strong as the male one. The same happens with the transformation of a young girl into a woman. It is an intimate process that we all share but at times, are embarrassed about or even worse, shamed for. Things like the menstrual cycle, menopause, shifting hormones that affect us not only physically, but mentally and changing bodies show a natural transition that every woman will undergo in her life. 

While Linda Zhengová is focused on the images of the body that are interlaced with photographs of flowers that highlight female vulnerability, tenderness but also resilience, Alex Blanco works with light and shadow that mark female bodies and combines them with still lifes of fruits and vegetables to highlight their resemblance in terms of shapes and textures with female bodies. The photographer also demonstrates the importance of shared experiences and bonding, like, for instance, over a dinner.

Through their exposure to vulnerability and use of metaphors, both artists attempt to provide an intimate experience for the viewer and call attention to the importance of the bond between people that now is more important than ever.