Beatrice de Wit-Messerli

The project “without fruit” is an unusual way of processing deeply hidden feelings and emotions; about the heart's desire to become a mother that never came true.

I tell my story through 30 (quilt) skirts. It began in the 90s, long before email, the internet, cell phones and social media, and ends 30 years later with an exhibition, a fashion show and a book.

I tried to get pregnant for 10 years, then I pushed my feelings and emotions away for 10 years and finally it took me 10 years to process what had happened.

I describe how the fate of life changes, how life dreams, ideas and joy slowly turn into doggedness and disappointment and finally end in bitterness and loneliness. A long, painful ordeal.

So I took needle, thread and scissors and sewed the feelings from my soul!

Bitterness, sadness and loneliness gave way to joie de vivre, happiness and contentment.

What do I want to achieve with this project?

There are thousands of stories like mine, if not more. I want to draw attention to the issue of childlessness and encourage fellow sufferers to find their own way of coping.

Infertility and childlessness, whether wanted or unwanted, are taboo subjects. It is not talked about because it is a look behind the scenes of a relationship and does not stop at the bedroom door.

From a medical point of view, many things can be done about infertility, but can we also cope with it ethically and morally? How far do we want to go to have a child? These are all questions and issues that we have to answer for ourselves, because we have to live with them.

With regard to fertility, infertility and childlessness will be a growing concern.