Inspired by the French game of plucking petals off a flower, “I Love You a Little Bit, a Lot, Not at All”, encapsulates fragmented recollections of my upbringing, exploring the nuances of love and the ways in which it can be expressed, withheld, or questioned. This lore of my childhood and the familial relationships that exist(ed) within the confines of our home serves as a catalyst built by molded memories, senses, objects, and places no longer meant for us. With this ongoing series, I convey the emotional complexity and intricacy of familial relationships, delving into the depths of human connection and the sore fact that love is not a straight line. We keep secrets so as not to hurt the ones we love.

About the artist:

Melati N. Maupin was born in 2001 in Washington, DC. In 2023, she will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with a minor in Marketing Insights at Virginia Commonwealth University. Maupin has been included in various group shows, including Undisclosed Resource: Horror Show for LocalHost Gallery’s online exhibition, Fragments of Devotion, a group exhibition at Secret Flowers in Richmond, VA, and For What’s Left To Unfold, VCUarts 2023 BFA Capstone Exhibition. Maupin currently lives and works between DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Like You Used To

2022

Archival pigment prints, wood framed

16 x 20 inches