Übermutter, 2021

print on vinyl on oil barrel, 57 x 85 cm

Non Stop (avgangsutstilling), Tou Ølhallene, Stavanger, Norway

Photos: Helle Navratil

Übermutter, 2021

print on vinyl on oil barrel, 57 x 85 cm

Non Stop (avgangsutstilling), Tou Ølhallene, Stavanger, Norway

An enlarged can of chopped tomatoes by the brand Mutti – Mutti meaning “mom” in German. Übermutter explores the high expectations placed on mothers and the pressures that shape their roles in contemporary society. Presented on the surface of an oil barrel, the work introduces a sense of industrial weight and endurance, an object built to withstand strain, mirroring the emotional, physical, and cultural load often carried by women in caregiving roles.

The title plays on Freud’s concept of the Über-Ich (superego), linking the idea of inner moral authority and societal rules with the idealised image of the “perfect mother.” This layered wordplay highlights the demanding standards mothers internalise: to be endlessly patient, efficient, nurturing, resilient, and self-sacrificing.

Photos: Helle Navratil