Tin Roof, Shiny (2020-21)

Trying Again (28th November 2020)

I Thought I Was Okay About It (17th December 2020)

Here We Go Again (6 Weeks / 16th January 2021)

I Still Feel Confused (14th February 2021)

I’m Feeling Alright (13th March 2021)

I’d Like To Get Pregnant Soon (15th April 2021)

I Still Want A Second Child But I Am Tired (14th May 2021)

Here We Go Again Again (9 Weeks? / 31st May 2021)

Tin Roof, Shiny is a series of portraits documenting the time where I wanted to become pregnant with a second child.

Each menstruation cycle I would photograph myself after my period had arrived (or sometimes so I thought) with a simple phone self-portrait, and with my 'usual set-up' wearing the same top after a positive pregnancy test or while waiting to see if my period would arrive.

After each shoot I would write a diaristic text of 30 hashtags about how I was feeling.

In 'Here We Go Again (6 Weeks / 16th January 2021)' I had a positive pregnancy test and started to make work about being pregnant. However, when my next period would have been due I was having cramps and experienced 3 negative tests at the Doctors - and then a negative blood test. I'm still not sure if I was ever really pregnant, so the work documents this confusing time too.

The title is a play on the line 'Tin Roof, Rusted' from The B52's song Love Shack. Some have interpreted it to mean someone who is pregnant, so my version is meant to represent someone who is not.

(Text that accompanies in the fourth image in the top grid)

I Still Feel Confused (14th February 2021)

#IFeelLikeICanNotBeBotheredToContributeToThisThisMonthButIKnowIShould

#IAmAMixOfEmotions

#WasIEverEvenPregnantOrDidIImagineItAll

#IDidNotImagineAPositiveTestThough

#WasTheTestBrokenAndShouldIHaveDoneMore

#IFeelLikeItDoesNotMatterAnymore

#IAmOverItThoughAtTheSameTimeIDoHopeThatIAmStillPregnantAndThatTheDoctorsTestsWereWrong

#ButICanNotArgueWithABloodTest

#IAmNotExpectingToBePregnantInTheNextMonth

#MyBodyNeedsARestFromWhateverJustHappened

#AndIAmTired

#IFeelLikeIWouldBeSoMuchMoreTiredIfIWasPregnantRightNow

#ButIfIWasIWouldBeHappy

#ThoughOnEdgeWonderingIfSomethingBadHappened

#IfIWasPregnantThenItWasBetterThatItDidNotWorkOutSoEarlyOn

#IForgotToThinkAboutHowAPossibleMiscarriageWouldAffectTiago

#HeWasSadButHeSaidHeHadGotOverIt

#IFeelOverItButIDoJustFeelConfused

#MaybeIAmTryingToMakeMyselfFeelBetter

#ButIAlsoFeelLikeMaybeIWasNeverPregnantAndSoThereIsNoPointDwellingInItAll

#IWillNeverHaveAnswers

#WeHaveTimeToGetPregnantAgain

#IDoWorryAboutHowHavingTwoKidsWillBeAndWillIBeAbleToMakeWork

#IKnowIWillButIWillJustNeedToDropSomeThingsAsIFeelTiredNowWithOneKid

#IThinkIAmTryingToDoTooMuch

#WeWouldLikeTwoKidsThoughAndItFeelsBetterToJustGetOnWithItAndHaveAnotherOneSoon

#EspeciallyWhileWeAreLivingWithMyNanAndHaveOtherFamilyNearby

#IWasReadingTheOtherDayThatGoingFromNoKidsToOneIsMoreOfAShockThanFromOneKidToTwo

#IStillFindItWeirdThatIAmAMotherToOneKidSoMaybeOneDayBeingAMotherToTwoWillBeStrangeButNice

#WeShallHaveToSee

My Period Arrived Four Days Late (December 2020)

My Period Arrived One Day Late (January 2021)

My Period Arrived One Day Early (February 2021)

My Period Arrived One Day Late (March 2021)

My Period Arrived Four Days Late (April 2021)

My Period Arrived Three Days Early (May 2021)

(Text that accompanies the last image in the previous grid - I was pregnant and only experienced some spotting.)

My Period Arrived 3 Days Early (May 2021)

#WellIGuessThatItHasArrived

#IWasSpottingABitEarlier

#WhenHasAPeriodReallyArrived

#IGuessThatSpottingCounts

#IWasSoConvincedThatIWasPregnant

#IHaveBeenFeelingABitSickAndSoTired

#AndAfterSearchEnginingSymptomsIThoughtIHadALotOfThem

#IThinkThatIHaveJustBeenImaginingItThough

#IWasHopingThatMyPeriodWouldNotShowAtAtAllAndThatIWouldBe8WeeksPregnantAlready

#ISaidToMyMumTheOtherDayThatIThoughtIMightBePregnant

#SheSaidToWaitABitLongerThanIDidLastTime

#ToBeFairLastTimeWasTwoWeeksAfterIHadDoneOneWhenIWasPregnantWithB

#IShouldNotComplainIfIAmNotPregnantAsIKnowSomePeopleHaveAMuchLongerJourneyToPregnancy

#AndIAlreadyHaveAChild

#IWouldJustLikeItToHappenSoon

#ItWillHappenWhenItHappens

#IDoNotThinkThereWillEverBeAGoodTimeToHaveASecond

#ButIAmJustNotReallyDoingMuchAtTheMomentSoItSeemsLikeAGoodTime

#WellIAmLookingAfterBALot

#IAmWorkingOnMyArtPractice

#AndIDoSomeFreelanceWork

#MyHoursAreFullAndIDoNotHaveMuchTimeToMyselfSoIAmDoingStuff

#WellIGuessWeWillHaveToSeeHowTheRestOfThePeriodIs

#ILookedUpImplantationBleedingEarlierAndItSaidItMayAppearAfter6To12Days

#ItCouldPossiblyBeThatButIDoubtIt

#WeWillHaveToSee

#IHadAToothOutLastWeekAsIDidNotWantToLeaveItUntilIWasPossiblyPregnantAndNotAbleToTakePainkillers

#IThoughtItWasBetterToGetItTakenOutAlreadyAsItWasCausingMeGriefFor2Weeks

#IHaveBeenInLessPainSoItWasTheRightDecision

#IFeltAwkwardEveryTimeITookIbruprofenButParacetamolWasDoingNothingForIt

Previous Project: Oh Me, Oh Mãe (2020-21)

Next Project: Puke Portraits II (2021)

Trying Again (28th November 2020)

I Thought I Was Okay About It (17th December 2020)

Here We Go Again (6 Weeks / 16th January 2021)

I Still Feel Confused (14th February 2021)

I’m Feeling Alright (13th March 2021)

I’d Like To Get Pregnant Soon (15th April 2021)

I Still Want A Second Child But I Am Tired (14th May 2021)

Here We Go Again Again (9 Weeks? / 31st May 2021)

My Period Arrived Four Days Late (December 2020)

My Period Arrived One Day Late (January 2021)

My Period Arrived One Day Early (February 2021)

My Period Arrived One Day Late (March 2021)

My Period Arrived Four Days Late (April 2021)

My Period Arrived Three Days Early (May 2021)

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