Redemption of Conscience

Redemption of Conscience / 2004

Traditional Silver Prints – 9 / 12” x 8”

Kim Borst

This body of work signifies the forced influence of Catholicism on my life and the redemption from guilt. At its core is my shared responsibility in abortion.

As one who can understand and appreciate the sanctity of life as well as the cycle of life and death I still struggle with the conditional consequence of human choices or actions within that scheme. My first experience with pregnancy I acknowledged a shared responsibility and I immediately realized I had to decide was I “pro choice” or was I “pro life.” For quite obvious reasons I knew it would be easier for me to make that decision than it would be for the woman involved. At the age of 23 I knew I was not emotionally mature and financially stable enough to raise a child. I also could not ignore the epiphany I had at the age of 12 when an uncle lived with my family while he was undergoing an emotionally traumatic divorce involving his very young child. After witnessing my uncles rather frightening emotional instability I concluded that it would be best for me to never marry and not to ever have any children of my own. My destiny as a proponent of “pro choice” had begun formulating at a very young age. My conclusion was based on witnessing the trauma my uncle exhibited, my deep respect of women as equals, and the fact that life does not realize its post-birth potential without the caring, nurturing shelter/container of the female body. Even though the inception of life and all that ensues is an equally shared responsibility the decision to abort or carry a life is ultimately the woman’s right.

These photographs symbolically and metaphorically represent my penance, my absolution, from my guilt. What I seek through these photographs is “redemption” from my conscience.