Mother
Mother by Judy Olausen is a unique collection of photographic portraits published by Penguin Publishing Group on March 20, 2000. This edition, comprising 128 pages, presents a humorous yet unsettling exploration of motherhood through the lens of 1950s-inspired props. Olausen captures her own mother, Vivian Olausen, in various surreal scenarios that comment on the traditional roles of women in the domestic sphere, creating visual metaphors that reflect the era just before the women’s liberation movement.
Readers will find a blend of humor and commentary as Olausen portrays her mother in imaginative situations, such as “Mother as Coffee Table” and “Mother Under Pressure.” The photographs depict Vivian engaging in absurd activities, from dragging a boulder to being chased by a giant tarantula, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone. This collection touches on themes of marriage and family, as well as the complexities of identity, making it a thought-provoking visual journey.
Official synopsis Publisher
In the spirit of William Wegman and Cindy Sherman, Judy Olausen offers up a hilarious yet oddly unsettling collection of portraits of that most sacred of institutions: Mother. Photographing her own mother using 1950s-inspired props, she turns a lifelong homemaker into a surreal icon of all-American-style domestic submission. From “Mother as Coffee Table” to “Mother as Doormat” or “Roadkill”, Olausen creates visual metaphors for Mother’s role in the era just preceding the women’s liberation movement. Vivian Olausen, the sole model in Mother, proved to be an enthusiastic and professional participant. She lugs a boulder up a staircase in “Mother Under Pressure” and drags a cross in “Mother Goes to Market”. She’s shown strapped to an old sedan, chained to a chair, chased by a giant tarantula in one image and a bear in another – all with good humor. “I’m just Judy’s model”, says Vivian, “I leave the rest up to her”.
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