I'm the same age as Liang - and similar ages when we had our sons. I've found that rather than alienate me from it, my relationship to and expression of hyper femininity in the usual "girlhood" signifier sense has been freer, more joyful, and more empowering than ever. In general motherhood has made my intellectual world as well as my emotional world richer and bigger.
I really appreciate your open-hearted exploration of Liang in this context!
Hi Audrey. This was a brilliant read. I wonder if I can raise one small edit: Paul McCartney never had a child named Linda. In fact, Linda is the name of his wife. His first daughter was named Mary.
Reading this in my Sandy Liang earrings and blouse on my way to work - and your analysis of motherhood, identity and design is both precise and culturally pertinent. Your finger is always right on the precarious pulse of the cultural shifts behind cool girl sensibility that deem a brand's descent from widespread praise to 'overpriced instagram garbage,' whose unenlightened consumers are dumb enough to purchase instead of scouring ebay for similar pieces. You also took the response right out of my mouth regarding the recent discourse du jour regarding motherhood and artistry. It reminded reminded of this quote from Kristeva that "it is up to us to create new metapsychological concepts so as to develop—by listening to the sexuality of the woman lover—the elucidation and support of maternal eroticism in all its specificity...No woman will be free as long as we lack an ethics of the maternal." As always, a keen and eclectic read <3
I'm the same age as Liang - and similar ages when we had our sons. I've found that rather than alienate me from it, my relationship to and expression of hyper femininity in the usual "girlhood" signifier sense has been freer, more joyful, and more empowering than ever. In general motherhood has made my intellectual world as well as my emotional world richer and bigger.
I really appreciate your open-hearted exploration of Liang in this context!
thank you so much, molly! i'm so touched by this response <3
Hi Audrey. This was a brilliant read. I wonder if I can raise one small edit: Paul McCartney never had a child named Linda. In fact, Linda is the name of his wife. His first daughter was named Mary.
Reading this in my Sandy Liang earrings and blouse on my way to work - and your analysis of motherhood, identity and design is both precise and culturally pertinent. Your finger is always right on the precarious pulse of the cultural shifts behind cool girl sensibility that deem a brand's descent from widespread praise to 'overpriced instagram garbage,' whose unenlightened consumers are dumb enough to purchase instead of scouring ebay for similar pieces. You also took the response right out of my mouth regarding the recent discourse du jour regarding motherhood and artistry. It reminded reminded of this quote from Kristeva that "it is up to us to create new metapsychological concepts so as to develop—by listening to the sexuality of the woman lover—the elucidation and support of maternal eroticism in all its specificity...No woman will be free as long as we lack an ethics of the maternal." As always, a keen and eclectic read <3
thank you so so much alexandra! that's so absolutely right - kristeva's writings on motherhood are so inspiring.
what a beautiful piece, audrey <3
thank you so much! 🩷