Prima Materia, 2017
In Prima Materia, Clara Aldén explores her first pregnancy while it is still ongoing. Searching for traces of pregnancy in culture, history, and art history, her research gradually leads her to alchemy.
Within alchemy and philosophy, prima materia is understood as the "first matter"—the original substance from which all transformation begins. Somewhere in her research, she encounters a reference claiming that Aristotle referred to women as prima materia. From there, the project arrives at a simple conclusion:
APPARENTLY ARISTOTLE CALLED WOMEN PRIMA MATERIA
THE GOAL OF ALCHEMY IS TO CREATE PRIMA MATERIA
MY MOTHER CREATED ME
AND I CREATED ANOTHER
ARISTOTLE WAS RIGHT
The project consists of drawing, painting, photography, textiles, and found objects, which are used to process and reflect on the experience of a first pregnancy.
Within alchemy and philosophy, prima materia is understood as the "first matter"—the original substance from which all transformation begins. Somewhere in her research, she encounters a reference claiming that Aristotle referred to women as prima materia. From there, the project arrives at a simple conclusion:
APPARENTLY ARISTOTLE CALLED WOMEN PRIMA MATERIA
THE GOAL OF ALCHEMY IS TO CREATE PRIMA MATERIA
MY MOTHER CREATED ME
AND I CREATED ANOTHER
ARISTOTLE WAS RIGHT
The project consists of drawing, painting, photography, textiles, and found objects, which are used to process and reflect on the experience of a first pregnancy.
