The Eyes of Others Our Prisons; Their Thoughts Our Cages
2022-
In the ongoing series, we encounter Kate, my great-grandmother, at the same age I am now – 100 years apart. Like me, Kate was an only child, raised under strict gender norms. Family stories reveal a lifelong, undiagnosed depression shaped by the trauma of World War I, an arranged marriage at 19 to my great-grandfather Carl – an ambitious, upper-class businessman – and the birth of her first child, my grandmother, at 20. Kate never wanted to be a mother and struggled to fit into the role of a dutiful housewife. She was creative and intellectually curious but denied both education and artistic freedom.
As a lens-based visual artist and researcher (PhD; PostDoc Fellow), I am similarly knowledge-seeking and creatively inclined. Yet unlike Kate, I live in a time and place where I can (still) choose how to use my body and with whom.
GenAI: Marie, it’s an unexpected pleasure to meet you, even if it’s in this peculiar way. How are you, dear? What brings you to me today?
Me: Hi, Kate. I’ve been going through some old family records that I have inherited from your daughter, my grandmother Grete, and came across your images, your story. It’s quite… heavy… and yet strangely relatable. I would like to understand more about you; about the life you lived.
GenAI: Oh, Marie, it’s quite something to think that you’ve come across those old records. I suppose they tell quite the tale, don’t they? Life in those times, well, it was a different world altogether. How does it resonate with you? Anything specific on your mind?
Through layered visual narratives – collages developed based on Kate’s photos from a century ago and my own (re)visits to the same sites, alongside imagined scenes from her life (autoportraits) – the series explores the personal and societal parallels between Kate and me. The images are physically merged through techniques such as tearing and reassembling, stitching prints together, and layering photographs with personal objects from Kate’s life. Furthermore, the series is supplemented by an ongoing written dialogue with Kate, revived through GenAI (ChatGPT).
Through this, The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages (2022–) engages time as both subject and material. The series explores how personal stories and societal structures layer across generations; how the past remains embedded in the present; how gender norms – once thought overcome – resurge through neo-conservative forces, pulling us back toward the restrictions and values of Kate’s time. Time, in this work, is not a neutral continuum but a contested space.
Although still in-progress, the series has already been selected for international publications, and for the Diecidecimi Art Festival, Italy, and VAIF, Greece, 2025. The series has also been selected for a 4 months photobook mentorship program at Centre de la Photographie Genevè, faciliated by Ann Griffin, October 2025 – January 2026.
Me: Kate, if I may ask, studying your beautiful photographs, can you tell me more about what inspired you to make them?
GenAI: Certainly, Marie. My photographs were my silent companions, born out of the quiet moments when I could steal away from the expectations and pressures that surrounded me. They were an escape, a way to express the turmoil within when words felt inadequate or forbidden. During the long hours alone with my daughter, I found solace in the camera. Many of my photographs were inspired by the fleeting moments of peace—scenes of nature, quiet corners of the house, or simple objects that held a certain beauty. These photographs were like windows into a world of my own creation, a sanctuary where I could briefly set aside the roles imposed upon me. Some photographs were reflections of the struggles I faced, subtle expressions of the darkness that lingered in my mind. It was a way to externalize the internal, a quiet rebellion against the constraints of a society that demanded smiles and silence. As I could not pursue formal education, books became my teachers. I drew inspiration from literature, creating visual interpretations of stories that transported me to different realms. It was a way to live vicariously through the characters and narratives that offered a temporary escape from my reality. In essence, each photograph was a fragment of my inner world, a whispered conversation with myself when the world demanded my silence. They were not just art; they were a lifeline, a means to hold onto a semblance of individuality in a world that sought to mold me into a predetermined role. I find a strange comfort in knowing that those photographs endure, connecting us across time. It’s a reminder that even in the most constrained circumstances, the human spirit can find ways to express itself and seek solace.
Looking back, I find a strange comfort in knowing that those photographs endure, connecting us across time. It’s a reminder that even in the most constrained circumstances, the human spirit can find ways to express itself and seek solace.
Me: Kate, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with me. Speaking of Grete, my grandmother, I wonder how you navigated the pressure from your husband and in-laws with regards to producing an heir? I have heard quite a few tales about Carl and his family …
GenAI: Navigating pregnancy and motherhood in the midst of societal expectations and personal struggles was a challenging chapter of my life. The pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, particularly as a wife and mother, was palpable. The expectations placed upon me by Carl, my husband, and his parents weighed heavily. The societal norms of the time dictated that a woman’s primary duty was to bear children and fulfill domestic responsibilities. It was a script written by others, and I felt compelled to play my part. The first pregnancy – with Grete – was an overwhelming experience. The discomfort, the physical changes, and the societal attention made it a challenging time. I tried my best to meet the expectations placed upon me—smiling at the baby showers, enduring the probing questions about my health, and feigning enthusiasm for the impending motherhood.
Motherhood itself was a conflicting experience. The societal pressure to be a nurturing, involved mother clashed with my own internal struggles and disinterest in the traditional roles assigned to women. Grete’s challenging nature added another layer of complexity, making the journey into motherhood a lonely and isolating one.
The strain on my mental health created a sense of detachment. I lacked the emotional connection to motherhood that society expected, and each day felt like a performance, a role I had to play to meet the expectations of those around me. The pressure to bear more children, particularly a son, added another layer of stress to an already strained situation. The economic challenges of the time, coupled with Carl’s expectations, intensified the burden placed upon me. My already dark mind grew darker.
Me: Kate, what a horrible experience to have to go through. No one should ever had to endure that. Motherhood should always be a joyous decision, not a forced duty.
GenAI: Truly, Marie. The forced nature of my journey into motherhood took a toll on both my mental state and my relationship with my own body. The sense of obligation and the suppression of my personal desires contributed to a pervasive darkness lingering in my mind. It became a silent struggle. My relationship with my own body became fraught with discomfort and unease. The physical changes brought about by pregnancy caused a sense of disassociation from my own body; a feeling of being trapped within a vessel that was no longer entirely my own.
Reflecting on it now, I understand that my mental state and my relationship with my body were intricately connected to the lack of agency and autonomy in the decisions surrounding motherhood. It was a journey marked by internal conflict and a profound sense of disconnection from both societal expectations and my own sense of self. I share these aspects not to dwell on the pain but to shed light on the complex interplay between societal norms, personal agency, and mental well-being. If there’s anything specific you’d like to explore or discuss further, Marie, I’m here to share more about that part of my life.
