A mother's feelings: Simone Haack's journey to motherhood
Each of us lacks a clear identity within ourselves; instead, we are largely a social construction: our existence is based solely on how we are perceived by others, and only to the extent that others see us. As Pirandello claims, these words are the same dynamics that the artist Simone Haack expresses and conveys through her art.
Simone Haack's work reflects a fascinating journey towards motherhood, characterized by artistic inspiration and the pursuit of expression. When starting a painting, she often has concrete pictorial ideas that motivate her to pick up the brush. But painting is unpredictable, and so her works often develop in unexpected directions as she suddenly makes new discoveries while painting and pursues them. At such moments, the original idea recedes into the background and becomes a rough compass that occasionally points her in the right direction.
Wife? Mother? Artist? These are just three roles that Simone Haack takes on
Simone Haack's art shows a world in which people, animals, objects and landscapes appear portrait-like and realistic, but have no equivalent in the "real" world. These are pictures that unite opposites and thus exert a special appeal.
The theme of motherhood has a special significance for Simone Haack. She is fascinated by the image of women in art, as motherhood is a relevant topic for every woman. Regardless of whether you decide in favor or against it, it is a present theme from a certain age. As a woman in mid-life, being confronted with the end of fertility feels like a great injustice. Her mother paintings, such as "Gulliva '' or "Theatre", show a super mother figure around whom other figures are grouped, while works such as "Girl with Dog" explore the theme of surrogate motherhood. These works are reminiscent of the paintings of artists such as Maria Lassnig and her depiction of missed motherhood.
In Haack's art, personal experiences and social issues merge into a powerful expression of emotion and reflection on the human condition. Her works invite us to engage with the complex feelings and challenges of motherhood while offering an aesthetic experience of extraordinary depth and complexity.
When asked whether she categorizes herself as a feminist artist, Haack answers in the negative. She emphasizes that dealing with women's issues does not automatically mean being feminist. Rather, her interest is of a more general nature and encompasses the examination of identity and the body. This is reflected, for example, in her current publication "Hair", which combines painting with the body and sometimes abstracts towards landscape.
According to Simone Haack, the experience of being a mother has made her a better artist. The time management required has made her more productive and she has learnt to make decisions more quickly. The first year with her baby prompted her to become active on Instagram again in order to reclaim her identity as an artist.
With regard to the art world, Haack says that motherhood is still a taboo subject. Many female artists keep quiet about their children out of self-protection, as they are not trusted to successfully reconcile having children and making art.
Simone Haack's journey as a mother and artist serves as a moving reminder of the interconnectedness of personal experience and creative expression. Her willingness to navigate the complexities of motherhood in the context of the art world is a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of women in search of their passions.
