E L L E N J O S E A R T A W A R D F O R Y O U N G W O M E N

B A Y S I D E G A L L E R Y, O C T - D E C 2 0 2 5

STRETCHED delves into the unique challenges of the current first generation Chinese migrant parents, born during China's one-child policy era, who are now navigating the uncharted territory of raising multiple children in Australia. This body of work was conceived and created during the first year of the artist’s second child's life, a period marked by profound transformation and self-discovery.

Employing a range of mediums, including photography, textiles, sculptures and text, MeiMei Hodgkinson explores the complexities of becoming a mother of two, while her cultural context has promoted the benefits of having only one child for 35 years in China. Her labor-intensive figurative sculptures, made from deadstock silk satin offcuts and Japanese glass beads, reflect the relentless demands of early parenthood. Each piece was made progressively over a 10-month period, between breastfeeding cycles and at nighttime. These works reflects an ongoing journey of understanding the conscious and subconscious ways in which our experiences and culture shape us.

Refusing to separate her role as a mother from her role as an artist, MeiMei Hodgkinson positions the challenging aspects of parenthood as the "muse" of her art practice. By embracing the intricacies of the everyday, the artist explores the idea that art is not separate from life, but rather an integral part of it.