This weaving is the Journey of emotions during an abortion. It is an aesthetic experience highlighting the emotions, stigma and taboo around the subject. How pregnancy isnt always positive and how the emotional side of an abortion is rarely considered, especially as it has a massive hormonal effect on the body. Weavings are a form of storytelling, the contrasting colours showing contrasting emotions in the journey as mother and baby are woven together but also torn apart. Each section portrays a different emotion or mix of emotions at different stages of the abortion through colours, thread tensions, and experimental weave patterns. I will take you on this journey now.
Shock: The shock of the pregnancy.
Decisions: To keep it or not to keep it? Its not as simple as a black and white decision.
Disgust, abnormal and Judged: Feeling abnormal for not fitting in the societal pressure to see pregnancy as positive, feeling judged for this and disgusted.
Guilt Brewing: The start of the guilt brewing and continuing throughout.
Distance: De-attaching self from the situation to deal with the brewing emotions.
Fear: Scared of what is to come.
Pain: Both physical and mental during and after the abortion.
Surreal: Not being able to come to terms with what is happening.
Loss: The loss of something part of you and that you have created.
Guilt: The guilt of letting it go.
Attachment: Realising some maternal attachment.
Heartache: A broken heart from the loss.
Empathy, Jealousy and Secrecy: These emotions added to the mix. Empathy from maternal instincts, jealousy of other maternal relationships stemming from the guilt and Secrecy from the pressure to not discuss a taboo and controversial subject.
Peace and Acceptance: An eventual realisation and acceptance of the decision being right. With emotions fading, not fully healed but at peace.
Milly Wakelin 