Aneta Grzeszykowska's 'Mama' exhibition at Raster explores mother-daughter dynamics through uncanny silicone sculptures

At the Raster gallery in Warsaw, Aneta Grzeszykowska showcased her exhibition 'Mama,' which included 25 photographs of her 8-year-old daughter, Franciszka, interacting with a silicone replica of the artist's upper body. Taken in 2018, these images vary from eerie to affectionate, stemming from Franciszka's encounter with the model from Grzeszykowska's 2017 work, 'Model.' Among the standout images are Franciszka securing the model's lips with tape and the artificial mother seated on a piano stool. This series delves into the dynamics of mother-child role reversal and draws inspiration from Cindy Sherman's 'Untitled Film Stills.' The exhibition was open from 25 May to 14 September 2019, addressing Poland's strict abortion laws and challenging societal norms.