Women's Empowerment Stories ...

Art that makes you feel better
~ Annett E. Bank

Most of my life I was an overly aggressive and coarse young woman until the creator decided to stop this tyrannical behaviour and let me channel my fanatic energy for the good of Divine Providence – namely into Art. Until then I had always believed that I was suffering more than others, but suddenly realized that if there was paradise on Earth then men wouldn’t have a powerful stimulus to advance. We wouldn’t even have remembered that we have to live life on earth actively not lazily and need to master cordial love, i.e. the emotions of an “opened” heart in order to cleanse ourselves of bad qualities. This insight guided me to change my outlook and so I took up the challenge to live my life as an artist, trusting the journey to be exciting and stimulating.

All spiritual teachings demonstrate to us that we need to find our true human potential - to strive to be all that one can be and recognize our own “true beauty” that emanates from within. It was from that notion that I felt inspired to transform myself not only physically, intellectually and ethically, but also psycho-energetically. As a typical woman I sought peace, harmony and cosiness and cared for all things sensual, especially since they were crudely lacking in my life until that point. I used this situation to my advantage and developed an artistic language that aims to “ennoble” others to get the Creative Spirit’s idea of perfection.

In my work I thus hope to inspire people to reflect on the experience of spontaneous joyful, mindful living that makes one feel good. It is my conviction that we need more art in the world that promotes health, positive energy and stability – art that calms you down, yet simultaneously lifts you up - raising your consciousness along the way. My work has all that in mind; it is very intriguing, warm and mature, and designed at the core to enhance one’s energy. Characterised with a great amount of sensitivity, musical rhythm and visual decadence it embraces dynamic movement with stillness.

I firmly believe that any piece of fine art possesses the qualities of its author. By using my own personal standards as an example, I have chosen to produce paintings on the subject of the expressive human being whose strength radiates from the inside out. The figures in my work therefore show a capability for balance, wisdom, purity of mind, tranquillity, control over one’s senses, fitness, goodness, truthfulness, light, poise and equilibrium.

When we are aware in these inner areas - predominantly in the psychic nerve system and the super-conscious nerve system - the cells of our bodies respond and we begin to look more refined too. Also, I believe if a woman is going for perfection, she has to supplement herself with masculinity – meaning absorbing the best qualities that the best of men possess. In the same way, a man who is going on to perfection has to supplement himself with femininity - seeking the best of female qualities. My objective was to bring together these male & female principles into one single, successful artistic composition, so that the artwork would be enhanced by a powerful ascending, actinic and contemplative quality. Conclusively my paintings are about combining these masculine powers with feminine gentleness & male strength with female beauty - conveying a certain attitude that women possess a divine faculty of separating within mankind their good intentions from evil thoughts. In this way the artwork becomes symbolic for purification and heals the surroundings in which they are displayed.

~ Annett E. Bank

The artist Annett E. Bank works and lives in Brighton, UK. All her current works and accomplishments can be viewed at her Annett Bank website.