Mother to child
Bongi D D M Radipati | Monday May 9, 2022 06:00
Even in its simplicity, the sculpture succeeds in conveying the depth and strength of a mother’s affection for her child and her preparedness both to hold and teach the child, simultaneously.
Looked at closely, the faces of the mother and the child - each stepping into the intimate space of the other - and each projecting their feelings of bonding for one another - hold your attention in as marvellous a portrayal of love and a readiness for engaging, as I reckon, exist in any art form in this country.
I would like to imagine that the prospect of the child growing up into being a useful member of our society compels a devoted mother to pay attention clearly to what matters in life. This to her (and us vicariously) is the honour of raising a child to have an exemplary character and education which are always central to leading a good, complete and purposeful life. It can be tempting to think that a mother’s love for her child is just an emotion, a sort of fuzzy warm feeling for the one she has given birth to and naturally has affection for. But warm fuzzy feelings for children do not amount to much unless they result in loving actions – and loving actions always require careful thought. Thus when we consider what it is to love a child well, we cannot avoid the topic of teaching the child.
Probably to signify progress, the sculpture is ‘up there’ on the northern side of this country’s dominant university (from whence its executives work) and is appropriately closest to its Centre for Continuing Education.
An aside: while the artwork is present in our physical world, shockingly, on the internet, it is nowhere to be found: an anecdotal proof that sometimes we just need to trust our own eyes! Anyhow, if you pay attention to this creative expression, you will discern that the mother is attracting the mind and sight of the child, and in turn, is making connections between her young life, continuous learning and us, the viewers of the art. In that sense, educating ourselves and others is not simply a matter of seeking enlightenment and getting to know what is good or bad for us or them. It is also the duty to develop the capacity to implement that education through actions arising from deliberation, a conscious choice and habit.
Indeed, educating ourselves or others can never be made in careless haste or thoughtlessness, anymore that a child can never be held securely or even raised properly without carefulness and attentiveness.
As humans, and almost at every stage of our lives, we often want to understand why things are the way they are. Thus, we usually want explanations. Typically, we want these explanations not merely for an immediate practical purpose but also for their own sake: that is, these explanations are valuable to us in their own right.
Gazed at, the sculpture evinces a mother seeking her explanations to her child to be true, not just lucky guesses, although it is likely that the child, at this age, would not understand those explanations. In this context, both the mother and child are thus engaged in virtuous citizenship and the quest for knowledge, even if the latter, may only be for its own sake. In any case, the sculpture also reinforces curiosity and the love of knowledge for both the mother and her child, as aspects of their pursuit of a good life.
If we agree with Alan Kay that technology is anything that was not there when we were born, I think then that it may be safe to assume that the mother in the sculpture may be as new to a laptop as her child. If that is so, and by its site at the nation's comprehensive university, and at the foot of a place designated for continuous education, the sculpture also seems to suggest that as a model parent, the mother is developing in her child, and indirectly, in herself and us, the character of a lifelong learner.
Additionally, in the sculpture, there is a powerful suggestion of a mother and child’s individual journeys of seeking enlightenment merged into a single but shared journey of discovery. Finally, this sculpture depicts the present way of life and learning to convey private affection and public learning now. In those senses, it is truly art for our times.
As we occasionally fix our eyes on this sculpture, may we regard it as a metaphor for reminding us of every mother’s talent for invention, by which she is able to transform the everyday duty of raising and teaching a child, into a significant act of her adoration of, and devotion to, her child. Anyhow, it seems to me appropriate that every day we must pay special reverence for the mother-child relationship, as both a vocation and an identity that is as noble as it is exalted.
With pure gratitude, we must also acknowledge that this relationship is not only something wondrous and complimentary, but that it is a unique gift to us as well. And as long as we acknowledge this gift of motherhood and how it is beneficial to society, we will not be inclined to substitute the sexes, nor accept that the accomplishment of women (whether as mothers or even as anything else) is to follow in the footsteps of men.
Therefore, this day and others to follow it, should serve to remind us that mothers and their children - for what they do together, if not for who they are separately - can be a harbour of intimacy and curiosity – undeniably, the ingredients of a life lived well with others. Happy Mother's Day!
*Radipati is a regular Mmegi contributor