@lily.adabelle_design
Girlhood and Godhood centers on nostalgia and religious guilt. It is
a reflection of a strange, queer little girl’s upbringing in the Catholic
Church. My work focuses on the inner turmoil created by desperately
seeking acceptance from your family and community while also longing
for freedom. I felt stifled by my religion and its gender roles. I was never
the ladylike, obedient disciple that I was supposed to be.
Catholicism shaped my perception of my identity for better and for
worse, simultaneously igniting a love of classical art and a deep-seated
guilt. I became stubborn, headstrong, and wary of authority. I cannot
explain myself without explaining my religion (or lack thereof).
Catholicism will be with me until the day that I die, but until then I will
make art about religion in order to process my complicated relationship
with it and hopefully connect with people who have had similar struggles.
In Girlhood and Godhood, I toe the line between eerie and nostalgic,
contrasting the innocent joy of childhood with the existential obsession
with Heaven and Hell. I do this through the combination of family photos
and catholic imagery. I want my raw vulnerability to inspire others and
make them feel less alone. I want people to be encouraged to experiment.
I want people to know it’s okay to be weird. Making art helps me process
my emotions, and I hope engaging with it helps viewers do the same.