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Courtesy of Brooke Ashley Barone
Photographer, Brooke Ashley Barone, reverses the doctored maternal lens with her upcoming solo exhibition, _Mommy, Dearest_. Her personal language with intimacy and healing is displayed through the slideshow of images. Distilling men cradled in a fetal position, clinging onto the clothed women for emotional reliability.
Barone is affirming her own history with dating, often then not dealing with “babying men throughout my entire relationship history.” By depicting women as the mounting, power figures, she decanters the reiterated artistic portrayals of women always nude while breastfeeding children. We got to asking her a few questions before the opening of her show, read more below.
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Courtesy of Brooke Ashley Barone
**What would you say has led you to assuming the role of “Mommy” in relationships? In the same token, what seems to lead these men to assuming the “baby” role**
It’s a little bit of a chicken before the egg thing—do I attract these men by being motherly? Or do they attract me? Hard to say. Either way it was my reality for a couple years.
**Was the choice to use a remote capture intentional? It seems to contribute to the power dynamics being represented in the work...**
Definitely. I’m playing with ideas of being a strong female in this role.
**How long did it take to complete this series? I can't help but notice your changing hair colors.**
A little over two years. I started what seemed a lifetime ago...
![Courtesy of Brooke Ashley Barone](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472bbda4380a1389b541d1c_Flaunt%2BMagazine%2Bbrooke%2Bashley%2Bbarone%2B-%2B17.jpeg)
Courtesy of Brooke Ashley Barone
The _Mommy, Dearest_ exhibition’s opening ceremony will be held on January 9th, 2020 from 6:00pm-9pm. The exhibition will remain open until February 6th, 2020 from 10:00am-5:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays at the Olympic DTLA location.
![Brooke Ashley Barone](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472bbda4380a1389b541d24_Brooke%2BAshley%2BBarone.jpeg)