I have been following Jenni’s work on social media recently, fascinated by its strength. She is in the third year of a fine art degree at University Centre, Somerset, and produces bold, exciting pieces that examine and defy stereotypes about women. I find her output enormously expressive and powerful. In this female artist focus guest blog, I asked her to tell me a little about her current projects, and to give a little insight into her process. Jenni says:

“I am new to art, although I have always loved it. I used to take myself off on trains alone to see London shows for many years,  but I had never created. Photography tended to be where I tried to capture the world, but I had not been allowed to study art at school. My father didn’t deem it a “proper” subject and whenever I put brush to paper the results were hugely disappointing.

It was around 8 years ago when my partner became ill and my world fell apart. I couldn’t sleep and I began drawing and playing in the nights when I was awake with insomnia. Anxiety preventing me from sleeping. . . I quickly discovered this was the only way to switch off those dreadful circular ruminating thoughts. I am still very much learning,  playing and experimenting.”

“I came to art as a way of healing and finding peace when my mental health was in tatters, so it seems natural that my work always seems to be focussed on understanding myself. I hope this will be relevant to other people, maybe my issues resonate with them too?

I decided to undertake an art degree to give me more scope and freedom with my playing. This is a wonderful experience. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and made to think much more deeply about the things I create.

Most recently I have been exploring and playing with the ideas arising from inhabiting a “patriarchal, image obsessed” society as a “fat menopausal woman”. Beginning by thinking about “what it is that ‘we’ are looking for” as we progress through life, having perhaps achieved our career goals and seen our children fly the nest.”

“Maybe this is the time we can begin to look inwardly and refine our core? I explored the idea of our inner child. . . Is it this the thing that has been allowed to run free again when we see old ladies who dress in leopard skin, swear copiously and eat chocolate cake for breakfast? Is it this rediscovery of the inner child that causes disconcertion amongst people ?

Talking about inner child made me remember the wonderful art by Alexander Milov that was exhibited at the Burning Man festival in 2015.”

Exploring the Inner Child

“Definition of inner child: the childlike, usually hidden part of a person's personality that is characterised by playfulness, spontaneity, and creativity, usually accompanied by anger, hurt, and fear attributable to childhood experiences.

I am beginning to notice that my work falls into three areas. . . Looking at the superficial view of me in this society. . . The outer layer. . . what society sees, responds to, ignores where possible. . . Hushed tones, no place. . . Surplus to requirements. . .

Best before your sell-by-date.”

Too old and fat?

“Then there is my response to this - Who am I? Fighting for body acceptance . . . Golden goddess. . . take me as you find me. . . Repair my inner child. Put her back together let her shine through and play. Find the joy in world lost in old and weary disenchanted eyes.”

“And finally the reclamation of power. . . The rising up and taking back our strength, our value, our place. Looking at how women became the Hags and Crones with such negative connotations rather than the wise and wisdom-full goddesses.

(This change in perception of mature women went hand in hand with the emergence of a male dominated Christian church and their wish to undermine the wise women in society. Hence the emergence of ‘witches’.)”

“Always wear our crowns with pride.”

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