metamorphosis

Dates

2021 - Ongoing
Author

Ilana Bar
Locations Atibaia, Brazil

Metamorphosis, in process

The essay recounts my own experience of the body harboring and nurturing another life in formation.

The body that I belong to and that was never mine before society; that judges, demands, harasses and forces. I discover in that belonging, the power of the body, the strength and power of gestating, another life pulsates in my womb. I document in images the physical and emotional transformation of this experience and the loneliness of a pregnant woman, enhanced in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, far from hugs and touching.

This project is a candidate for PhMuseum 2023 Women Photographers Grant

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© Ilana Bar - Image from the metamorphosis photography project

Atibaia, October 21, 2020. childhood photo, I am standing holding a staff, my brothers on top of a horse. A manual intervention was done on this image with the intention of showing my uterus and highlighting my difference with my brothers

Atibaia July 23, 2020. Self-portrait at home.With the intention of illustrating the physical and emotional change, I made a self-portrait that merges my reflection on the computer screen with another self-portrait displayed on the screen.

Atibaia, October 2, 2020.Self-portrait at home. I hold a mirror with my feet and it reflects my navel and part of my belly. It is an attempt to recognize the life that is flowing inside me and translate how I was feeling living this transformation.

Atibaia, October 28, 2020.Self portrait at home. There is no physical image of me in this photo. But by portraying an avocado seed germinating on a red duvet, I felt represented. that was exactly how I was feeling, with a life welling up in my belly.

Self portrait at home. my body is in transformation, I feel the power of life in me.

Self-portrait at home. I made a self-portrait with my shadow, printed this photo and with a needle I made an intervention. The point of light represents my daughter growing inside of me. My body is a dwelling place for it to be nourished and grow healthy.

Self portrait at home. The photo shows how I spent Christmas pregnant. I am very nauseaThe blur is purposeful to represent my nauseaThe image was made with a tripod, directed by me and with the help of my partner. I was really nauseous

Self-portrait at home. The picture shows me in a towel and bathrobe after getting out of the shower. I'm pregnant with my daughter Liz. At this stage of pregnancy I was very tired and my belly was already starting to weigh a lot.

Self portrait at home.

self portrait whit my daughter at home. maternal work is made invisible. Who sees the mother? Who is the mother?now, even I can't see myself.Who takes care of the beginning of life?This image contains intentional digital manipulation

metamorphosis

This project is a candidate for PhMuseum 2023 Women Photographers Grant

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