Bianca Raffaella Between Heartbeats and Memories, 2026

A mother and baby occupy the centre-left of the canvas. Compared with some of the other works, the figures are more recognisable, but they are still heavily blurred and fragmented. The palette is pale mauve, lilac, white and soft pink. Darker charcoal marks briefly define parts of the face and body before being covered again by pale mist. The baby is gathered close into the larger figure around the chest and upper torso. Broad white strokes meld the two bodies together. Across the lower centre, bright pink horizontal marks cut through the softer greys and whites, while areas of raw linen remain visible around the edges. The surface feels compressed and agitated.

I made this from my memories of postnatal hospital care. I was exhausted and in severe pain, while also trying to understand how to care for my baby. My memories of that period aren't complete. I remember curtains opening and closing without always knowing whether they were mine. I remember other women screaming. I remember pressing the call bell and waiting. There were moments when not being able to see what was happening made me feel incredibly exposed. Those memories overlap in the painting.

I didn't want to illustrate each event. I wanted the surface itself to feel confused and pressured. For me, this is one of the rawest paintings in the exhibition.