This Artist Responds To Society’s Pressure On Women To Become Mothers By A Certain Age By Showing Pregnant GRANDmothers

The latest project by multidisciplinary artist Anna Radchenko tackles ageism. Titled GRANDmothers, it plays with the idea that we will eventually be able to have children later in life, to the extent that even as grandparents, we will have the choice to get pregnant.

Composed of a set of photographs and a short film, GRANDmothers stands as a humorous visual commentary on society's pressure to become a mother by a certain age in order to still be considered valuable.

More info: Instagram | annaradchenko.com

Shot in Russia in what used to be one of the leading gynaecological hospitals in the country, the 1911 Hospital has been unused since 2013. The location also plays with our perception, combining the new with the old. Channeling a strong post-soviet aesthetic, we find pop band posters hanging on the wall, as well as Russian propaganda prints praising the traditional family. The result is an apparent eclectic ensemble, aimed at challenging what we know and take for granted while leaving us wondering about what would happen if we stopped adhering to social norms and acting according to society’s expectations.

Artist’s statement: “I was thirty years old when I became a mother. This made me think about how in the USSR, I would have been referred to as an 'Old Mother' on my medical card. Which is crazy when you think about it. Childless women over the age of forty or fifty are often seen as purposeless and they are encouraged to embrace a more sedentary lifestyle. On the other hand, men are perceived as getting better with age. This mindset is particularly true to Russia, though still very much present all over the world."

"GRANDMothers is a reflection on this. It holds an element of criticism, but it’s also a positive reminder of how far we’ve come in terms of being able to make our choices. By having projects such as GRANDmothers published and shared online, I want to make a difference in shifting our mindset and allowing us to perceive ageing as something as valuable for women as it is for men.”

GRANDmothers from Anna Radchenko on Vimeo.