Too Delicate To Lead

“Too Delicate To Lead” is a phrase borrowed from a poem by Kaitlyn Hardy-Shelter “Sometimes I Wonder”. I first encountered this poem during a Christmas service last year, which was notably only the second service I had attended in ten years. The poem explores the raw and harsh realities of childbirth, detailing a vivid depiction of the Birch of Christ and it’s intrinsic connection to the female body. Prophets throughout history share the commonality of inhabiting human bodies, yet they claim to be in contact with the divine. The idea of confining a higher power within the physical limitations of a human body greatly motivated this work. This poem emphasises that the true power of the divine is not restricted to the male experience. Instead, in the physical traits of a young mother. This imagery challenges the convention portrayal of divinity, arguing that spiritual authority lie not in the hands of ministers who “carry power but not burden”. Critiquing the exclusion of women in roles of religious leadership, “too delicate to lead” illustrates the prohibition of women in the church, even those as significant as the Mother of God. This piece utilises hues of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and indian red to convey feelings of the body. Framed with two gold beams, highlighting to connection between the body and the divine. Through thtis piece I invite viewers to reconsider their perceptions of divinity and leadership and to acknowledge the profound nature of the human experience.