NIPPLES OF THE SEA

2022 

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Nipples of the Sea is a series that delves into the complex roles of women as primary caretakers and explores the boundaries they face. Within this series, I reflect upon my multifaceted identities as a mother, a wife, and a woman navigating the realms of social and professional environments.

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Comprising an installation, it features hundreds of small sculptures crafted from sea elements. The play on words in French connects "Mer" (Sea) to "Mother," symbolizing the connection between mother nature, women as mothers, and my own identity as both a woman and a mother, all embodying nurturing qualities.

Each sculpture, mounted on a half sphere foam and glued with sand and sea elements, such as sea urchins, seashells, and sand, resembles a constellation. These sculptures hold an intriguing duality, as they exude both allure and prickliness, conveying notions of generosity and control simultaneously.

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The installation, while visually captivating with its natural color palette, also sets a sense of distance through the spiky pines of the sea urchins, keeping the audience at bay. Some sculptures feature threads of sand woven within them, symbolizing the boundless generosity that accompanies the nurturing aspect of women and mothers.

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However, the series also unveils the pitfalls of excessive nurturing, as it extends beyond the needs of the child, encompassing the family and society at large. Often, the woman's giving nature leads her to forget herself, to the point where her own existence fades into the background. Here, I employ the metaphor of nature, also nurturing but susceptible to depletion when overexploited. By incorporating prickly elements onto the nipples, I introduce limitations, safeguarding against becoming an object and preserving my identity not just as an individual but also as a woman.

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Nipples of the Sea is an exploration of the complexities, struggles, and strengths of women, echoing the nurturing qualities of the sea while acknowledging the importance of setting boundaries to preserve one's sense of self.

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