Zoe Dove Parks

Artist Statement

A child’s experience of the world around them partially makes up who that child is as a person, and also influences who they will become as an adult. Being a mother I am able to watch as my children grow and experience the world around them, however, I have come to learn that what I perceive as my child’s experience is not always parallel to how my child perceives their experience. This collection of work shows the juxtaposition in the child verus maternal experience.

Given that this work is about children, I made silhouettes of my children at various ages that are reminiscent of paper dolls. Using printmaking I am able to place patterns on the silhouetted child figures. This use of pattern shows how different experiences are internalized by the child, and shape who they are as a developing human being. To show the maternal experience as the observer of the child, I use written words describing the child’s experiences from my point of view. Given that my children are of age to recognize patterns, but not recognize words, I am able to show the differentiating thought processes of a child versus an adult.

Since this work is about the child experience I placed the silhouettes at the child’s eye level. By placing the work at a lower eye level, the child is able to experience the work primarily, whereas an adult would be observing the work from a different point of view.

 

Paper Dolls 

Printed paper collage 

Installation dimensions vary 

2022