Good Mom/Bad Mom Press Release - Unraveling the mother myth

Press Release - February 19, 2025

Good Mom/Bad Mom - The mother myth unraveled

‍March 29 - September 14, 2025

On March 29, the exhibition Good Mom/Bad Mom – Unravelling the Mother Myth will open at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. This large-scale group exhibition covers the many facets of motherhood: from ancient myths about 'good mothers' to contemporary, often personal reflections from new generations of artists. Featuring works from old, modern, and contemporary art, Good Mom/Bad Mompresents a diverse and realistic portrayal of motherhood, caregiving, and selfdetermination.

The Centraal Museum is the first museum in the Netherlands to dedicate such a large-scale exhibition to the theme of motherhood. Good Mom/Bad Mom includes works by renowned artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Louise Bourgeois & Tracey Emin, Luchita Hurtado, Camille Henrot, Miriam Cahn, and Lotti van der Gaag. New artworks have been created for the exhibition by artists including Britt Dorenbosch, Emmeline de Mooij, Hend Samir, Buhlebezwe Siwani, and Emma Talbot

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Laurie Cluitmans, curator of contemporary art at Centraal Museum and co-curator of Good Mom/Bad Mom: "Motherhood is considered one of the most universal human experiences. Yet it is rarely depicted in all its complexity and diversity. Good Mom/Bad Mom challenges established norms of 'good mothers' by consciously choosing voices that are least heard in art history: female and queer artists. In this way, we are giving space to stories that have long been silenced – both within the art world and beyond."

The Myth of Mary

The depiction of mother and child is one of the most well-known motifs in art history: the Centraal Museum's collection includes numerous portraits of the Virgin Mary and her baby Jesus. These paintings are mostly created by men and present a romanticized scene: a passive woman with an untroubled child. Artemisia Gentileschi's Mother and Child (1616-1618), the most celebrated female painter of the 17th century, offers a far more realistic portrayal: the mother attempts to nurse her child, her eyes half-closed, as though Gentileschi aimed to capture the fatigue of early motherhood. Seen with a contemporary perspective, it suggests that breastfeeding is not a given.

Critical Perspective

The persistence of the archetype of the self-sacrificing, 'good' mother is highlighted by Candice Breitz's installation Mother (2005). The artist used stereotypical images of 'hysterical' mothers from Hollywood films. Through these caricatures, she exposes deeply ingrained judgements and expectations about motherhood. Tala Madani presents a more realistic view of contemporary motherhood in the series Shit Mom (2019-2021), where a mother figure is smeared with brown 'shit'. Both artists question the way mothers are portrayed and judged in society.

Physical Experience

There are few portrayals of pregnancy and birth in art history. For a long time, these themes were considered too explicit due to their reference to the sexually active woman. As a result, the physical experience of motherhood was long veiled in shame. Good Mom/Bad Mom dedicates part of the exhibition to matrescence – the physical and mental transition into motherhood. Luchita Hurtado’s Birth(2019) shows the experience of childbirth from the perspective of the birthing woman. The painting combines abstraction with an intimate, almost physical directness

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The Artist-Mother

Many female artists were forced to give up their careers when they had children, or sacrificed a desire for children in favor of their artistic calling. The myth of the artistic genius also contributes to the belief that art and motherhood cannot coexist. Good Mom/Bad Mom proves the opposite, although it remains a persistent misconception. Thus, Camille Henrot explores the theme of the 'crow mother' – a mother who supposedly neglects her family – in her installation 3, 2, 1 (2021). Here, the monumental human-bird figure represents strength, just as the crow is traditionally seen as a symbol of strength. Heske ten Cate, director of Nest and co-curator of Good Mom/Bad Mom: "Motherhood comes in countless variations: the mother as saint, the wishful mother, the single parent, or the regretful mother. By showing all these different perspectives, Good Mom/Bad Mom creates space for a more emancipated form of parenting. We also explore the idea of 'mothering', meaning that care and love are not necessarily tied to biological children but reach much further."

Emancipation and Choice

Women's emancipation has been crucial in allowing open conversations about motherhood. In Good Mom/Bad Mom, matters of self-determination and reproductive rights are addressed, with works by artists like Guerrilla Girls, who fight for women's rights, and Lotti van der Gaag, who in Bosgod (1966) depicts the traumatic experience of her own abortion. This painting by the Cobra artist is presented for the first time in the context of self-determination

Annex: Emma Talbot

Emma Talbot has specially created a monumental installation for Good Mom/Bad Mom, called Mother Earth (2025). The installation consists of hand-painted silk panels and animations and is displayed in the final room of the exhibition. It poses a question to visitors: how do we care for our own mothers? Talbot refers not only to literal mothers but also to Mother Nature

Thematic cabinets

With specially created 'time capsules', Good Mom/Bad Mom aims to broaden the societal debate on motherhood. Thematic cabinets provide historical readings of topics like the struggle for emancipation and self-determination. Guest curator Trudy Dehue has created a cabinet on the development of knowledge about pregnancy, and a second time capsule offers insight into the history of women's emancipation. In Yoko Ono's installation, visitors can write an ode to someone they consider a mother

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Publication  

The exhibition will be accompanied by the comprehensive publication Mothering Myths: An ABC on Art, Birth and Care, a collaboration between the Centraal Museum and Nest. The ABC is compiled by Laurie Cluitmans and Heske ten Cate, designed by Bart de Baets, and published by Valiz. The publication features contributions from Rosemarie Buikema, Laurie Cluitmans & Heske ten Cate, Trudy Dehue, Babs Gons, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Camille Henrot, bell hooks, Bart Rutten, Lisa Smit, Lily van der Stokker, and Taka Taka. The book is a sequel to the awardwinning On the Necessity of Gardening, which was previously released as part of the The Botanical Revolution exhibition and won the Goldene Letter, the world’s most prestigious book design award. Mothering Myths is available for purchase at the Centraal Museum shop.

Activity Program

During the exhibition, visitors can participate in creative workshops with the Utrecht-based artist Britt Dorenbosch, both at the museum and in community centers across the city. Several lectures will also be held, including one by art historian Willemijn Stokvis. Following Mother's Day and Father's Day, the museum will host a "you-day" in April, focusing on everyone who cares for others.

Artists

Tyna Adebowale (1982), Abraham Bloemaert (1564 of 1566-1651), Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) & Tracey Emin (1963), Hendrick Bloemaert (1601-1672), Candice Breitz (1972), Miriam Cahn (1949), Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) (1977), Edward Clydesdale Thomson (1982), Jesse Darling (1981), Rineke Dijkstra (1959), Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931), Britt Dorenbosch (1986), Marlene Dumas (1953), Shardenia Felicia (1992), Lotti van der Gaag (1923-1999), Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656), Guerrilla Girls (1985), Lise Haller Baggesen (1969), Camille Henrot (1978), Loie Hollowell (1983), Luchita Hurtado (1920-2020), patricia kaersenhout (1966), Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945), Kinke Kooi (1961), Barbara Kruger (1945), Jan Adam Kruseman (1804-1862), Meester van Liesborn (15de eeuw), Tala Madani (1981), Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien (1988), Annette Messager (1943), Emmeline de Mooij (1978), Katja Novitskova (1984), Jonas Ohlsson (1967) & Magnus Monfeldt (1973), Wangechi Mutu (1972), Yoko Ono (1933), Dennis Oppenheim (1938-2011), Natalia Ossef (1983), Femmy Otten (1981), Frida Orupabo (1986), Otto van Rees (1884-1957), Paula Rego (1935-2022), Pipilotti Rist (1962), Tanja Ritterbex (1985), Sijben Rosa (1988), Hend Samir (1986), Jan van Scorel (1495-1562), Monica Sjöö (1938-2005), Buhlebezwe Siwani (1987), Eva Spierenburg (1987), Lily van der Stokker (1954), Emma Talbot (1969), Charley Toorop (1891-1955), Aline Thomassen (1964), Helen Verhoeven (1974), Willem Hendrik van der Wall (1716–1790), Caroline Walker (1982), Billie Zangewa (1973), Portia Zvavahera (1985), Rhonda Zwillinger (1950-2019).

Good Mom/Bad Mom – Unravelling the Mother Myth

March 29 – September 14, 2025

Centraal Museum

Curated by Laurie Cluitmans and Heske ten Cate

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Press

Press is invited to the special press preview on March 27 from 10:00 AM at the Centraal

Museum. Please register via pers@centraalmuseum.nl. An invitation with more information will

follow. Press images can be downloaded here

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