Original artwork description:

This collection is defined by its focus on childhood. It revolves around ideas of birth and rebirth, imagination, play, loss of innocence, identity, societal expectations, gender roles and peer pressure. Juxtaposing surreal images of childhood with our current reality, the work pushes us to reflect on our past, ourselves and the steps we take in the future. Underlined with eeriness that appears in grotesque or ironic distortions of reality, the work strives for a retrospective look homeward that is nostalgic and sentimental, yet strange. As in previous pieces the work is based on a combination of texts (primarily children’s literature) and personal stories, thus intertwining reality with the fantasy and often absurdity of these narratives merging the mundane with uncanny. Recognition as well as introspection play a key role in this series. By observing both the struggles and the joys of our youth and reminiscing about childhood simplicity I hope to alleviate the pressures and expectations, not only affecting children today but also those buried within ourselves and our inner child.

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