Anatomy of a connection – C/O Vienna Magazine

A connection is more than just a thread or a line that joins two points together. It is a living structure with its own anatomy. It bends, tears, stretches, and contracts; it breathes.

It is the space in between that shapes and holds sensing beings in relationship. Like all living things, it needs to be nurtured and cared for. It needs to be listened to. We are each other's mother, sister, and daughter. It is an act of presence. It is warm, connecting, and soft, but also deep and sometimes painfully open.

A project on the theme of M(OTHER)ING, realized in collaboration with the Applied Photography and Time-Based Media class led by Prof. Maria Ziegelböck at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Created as part of Yasmina Haddad's MATCH! #4 course.

The interrelationship between photography, fashion, and casting is examined, with a focus on the relationship between photographer and subject—and vice versa. The mother figure is not meant biologically, but is considered through acts of care: m(other)ing is a verb. Mothers mother, fathers mother, girlfriends mother—you can also be the mother of a house! Are you maternal? Or are you mothers? Like queens?*

Laura Sauer works in performance, photography, stage design, and video. With a background in communication design, she moves between disciplines in search of images, spaces, and moments.

Tänzerinnen: Ida Mariboe, Anouk Lucas