Olivia de Villaine

Mater\'s Gaze

Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, my work explores the intricacies of motherhood, offering a glimpse into the intimate bond between a mother and her child. This ongoing exploration, which began in 2019, seeks to capture the raw beauty of this connection while gently suggesting the deep vulnerability that lies in the core of maternity. Through intentional composition and portrayal, these images strive to celebrate the depth of moments shared between a mother and a child, inspired by my own journey into motherhood. By choosing to obscure the mother\'s face, my intention is to invite viewers to look beyond individualistic traits and contemplate the universal natural essence of maternal love. The models are presented naked as another way to lay bare their vulnerabilities and the delicate, natural skin to skin contact between a mother and her child. By unmasking and transcending the superficial, my aim in this project is to evoke empathy and appreciation for one of the most profound and vulnerable human connections - that of motherhood and to share with the viewer moments that are normally kept very private and hidden.