Statement

My work is an exploration and celebration of the oneness of feminine sexuality and spirituality. The title ‘I am the Whore and the Holy One’ is taken from a line from ‘The Thunder: Perfect Mind’, one of the ancient codices found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945 and believed to have been written by a women in the first century BC.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic but was never comfortable with the Church’s view of women. My searching has led me to Mary Magdalene, a woman whom I believe is a perfect metaphor for what has happened to feminine divinity through the ages. Being at once a powerfully spiritual and sexual person, she had to be relegated to the position of penitent prostitute. Denied her rightful place at the side of Jesus she was placed instead in a position of subjugation to the sexless dogma of a misogynist Church. Mary Magdalene’s image and memory has been used and abused for centuries.

This view of woman as fostered by most traditional religions is one that seeks to deny the concept of the perfection and wholeness of a spiritual and sexual woman, and thereby seeks to place women in one of three convenient moulds, virgin, mother, or whore. This view is still with us today, each of these categories acting as silent headings under which any woman can be conveniently placed, viewed and judged. With female sexuality linked directly to original sin and the downfall of ‘Man’ it is little wonder that it is seen as evil that, aside from the purposes of procreation, must be denied and subverted. The portrayal of feminine sexuality as the antithesis of feminine spirituality denies and divides our inner oneness, a process that damages women and leaves them in a powerless position. Men too are damaged, and being left unable to reconcile the desires of sexuality with the needs of spirituality are often cast adrift in a sea of guilt and self-denial, with potentially disastrous implications for both sexes.

My belief is that this denial and subversion of the feminine divine has led to an imbalance of male and female energy on our planet, the effects of which can easily be viewed by switching on or reading the news. Despite many steps forwards for the position of women around the world in the last century, much of this progress has been through a development of their own male energy, with women acting like men and seeking to compete in the world to ‘get on’. But female energy is not about competing; it is about life giving, nurturing, intuition, love, and wisdom, and it needs to make a fuller contribution to the future of the planet and its people.

I believe that the natural undercurrent of female energy is now strengthening and growing in all of us, men and women alike, and that eventually it will take its rightful place alongside male energy to co-exist with, balance and compliment it. An exploration, recognition, and celebration of the oneness of feminine sexuality and spirituality will help to aid this process. My work seeks to open the way to a more intuitive perception of femininity, allowing both men and women an opportunity to develop their inner sense of ‘recognising’ and ‘knowing’ the beauty and power of the feminine divine. I seek to display women as both sexually positive and spiritually aware.

My work references old masters such as Titian, Manet, Reubens, with a touch of the Golden Age of Hollywood. This is a favourite era of mine and screen goddesses such as Dietrich, Hayworth, Monroe, Leigh and Harlow are just a few of the amazing women who have had an impact on my work. The sparkling jewelry, ribbons and feathers come straight from that love of old movies.

My use of fabrics in the work is both sculptural and sensual. The use of net is particularly important to me as it gives a layering effect that I love. It both hides and reveals at the same time, reminding us of the multi-dimensional nature of life. I use red lipstick to extenuate the powerful sexual nature of women, the mouth often referencing the vulva. Fruit has many religious and sexual connotations whilst red wine hints at not only the blood of Christ but also the ancient cult of Dionysus.

The placement of props in my sets is very significant. Many of the objects seek to resonate with the central theme of the work as well as Christian art. Veils are symbolic of modesty and a renunciation of the world. Roses are used often as they are both beautiful and dangerous, referencing the crown of thorns and the rose as the flower of Venus, the Goddess of Love. There are also many Christian references to the rose including the Virgin Mary who is often referred to as the ‘Rose Without Thorns’. Also a garland of roses references a rosary. Candles have many meanings depending on how many are used; three represents the trinity but candles can equally have a phallic sexual reference.

My photographs are presented as large digital prints, the pixelation as clear to see close up as brush strokes on an oil painting. I see myself as an artist who uses photography as a medium to convey what I want the viewer to experience. My mixed media work is varied but again makes use of significant materials and objects often found in sexual and religious contexts, the pieces juxtaposing iconography from both spheres of humanity and enticing the viewer to a more intuitive perception of feminine sexuality and spirituality.

Biography

I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2000 with a BA Hons (2:1) in Fine Art. Studying full-time gave me the opportunity to explore my own perceptions and beliefs. Being a mature student with many life experiences to draw upon has helped me to unravel who I am and what I believe. In the past I have been involved with running my own campaign against additives in food (50,000 signatures and national media coverage), running my own retail business, running a national beauty pageant, and working freelance in advertising.

I am now a full-time artist and a practising Karuna Reiki Master, which is spiritual healing using divine universal energy.

My husband is a writer and I have three grown up sons.

Annette can be contacted at annette.martin@btconnect.com or telephone 01629 640 833