ABOUT

'Black Moon Lilith' celebrates the reclamation of primal feminine power. It is a creative response to the 'Me too' movement and a growing willingness to address the sexual exploitation of women. This work is also concerned with pornography, its prevalence, its increasingly violent and degrading nature, and particularly how it is shaping the sexual conditioning of young people and perpetuating a culture where women are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and violence.

The intention behind this creative work was to create expressions of feminine sexual energy that embodied a sense of sovereignty within in a natural context. This body of work seeks to redefine female sexuality as wholesome and natural, free from submission, repression or shame. It celebrates the primal feminine, liberated from the distorted and harmful conditioning inherent in patriarchal culture.

This work offers a new vision of the empowered feminine. These potent images are designed to evoke healing in the psyche and support the reclamation of female sexual power, particularly for women who have suffered sexual trauma. From the most extreme forms of sexual violence to the more pervasive everyday impact of the hyper-sexualisation of the feminine in the media.

In these handcrafted paper collages, images of women from vintage pornographic magazines have been re-contextualised as powerful nature deities. The demure submissive gaze of the centre-fold has been replaced with the fierce gaze of a powerful untamed creature. These wild woman are at home in the wilderness, adorned with feathers, flowers, fins, claws, horns and wings. These figures are inspired by ancient expressions of the wild feminine including the goddess/virgin/huntress Diana and the Dakinis of Tibetan Buddhism. These figures also invoke the Maiden archetype, she who is pure and whole unto herself. They represent the untamed, uninhibited and unconditioned wild feminine latent in all of us.

In a broader context this work addresses the great pyscho-spritual-ecological crisis of our time. It acknowledges that we once revered both nature and the feminine, and they were often revered as one. Patriarchy not only promoted the control and exploitation of women, it coincidently led to a similarly exploitative and destructive relationship with nature. Healing our relationship with the feminine can also heal our separation from ‘Mother Nature’ and the web of life. A deeper connection and sense of union with the natural world can open the heart and lead to a more wholesome and respectful relationship with oneself and the world. Humanity is at a cross roads where our wellbeing, the wellbeing of the planet and of future generations necessitates a shift in consciousness. The restoration of feminine power and reconnecting to the natural world sits at the heart of this evolution.

'Black Moon Lilith' is a series of 12 handcrafted paper collages which are 210 x 297mm. The collages were photograghed and reproduced as large archival art prints for an solo exhibition. This exhibition was held at the Edith Gallery in Whanganui, New Zealand during the 12th annual Women's Festival 'La Fiesta'. The exhibition opened on the 18th February 2021 and ran until 10th March 2021. The exhibition was presented in partnership with the Women's Network of Whanganui.