Exploring Rebirth and Renewal with "Babushka"

Picture this: I'm at a crossroads. I'm unhappy in a job that was the only one to give me an interview, I'm in a small coastal town with no friends and nothing to do, I have no graduate roles lined up and hardly any to apply for locally, and I'm starting to doubt who I am as a person. The only way out is to shed my skin, right?

Babushka comes at a pivotal time in my life. Seeking my first career-defining job in a VERY difficult to navigate job market, the weight of it all has come crashing down on my shoulders. I'm upset, insecure and vunerable. I wanted to explore a piece of art that lets me shed my skin, like an onion, or a Babuska doll. I was fascinated by the ones my grandparents had when I was younger, and so one afternoon I decided to dress up like a Russian grandma and have this photoshoot. Fun fact - the little dolly I chose looks almost like the ones I played with as a kid.

Taking inspiration from the dolls themselves, and from Soviet-era posters, I wanted the finished product to look like an illustration or straight out of a book, pamphlet or fairytale. I wanted it to look striking and unconventional, hence the poses for which I used a stool to prop myself up on. The figure emerging was supposed to be yawning and waking up, fresh from her previous slumber and ready to look at the world with open eyes, but she also looks like she's flexing her muscles - something that is reminiscent of the 40's Riveter Rosie aesthetic.

The hair style took ages to do - my hair wouldn't cooperate even with copious amounts of pomade stuck in my fringe. Overall I think the concept worked, though my photoshop got sloppy at the end of the 6 hours I worked on this for. I'm happy with the colour grading and I hope other people can relate to wanting to start fresh right now, especially those also struggling to stay afloat and navigate finding their career.