Dennis Keyes & Jannick Wildberg: Consciousness Reflected

Jannick Wildberg

Painter Jannick Wildberg said of her artwork, “In all my paintings, I am looking for something I would call ‘luminosity.’ I try to communicate messages of peace, of our interconnectedness with everything, and the preciousness of life, so fragile and evanescent.

My art springs from a desire to communicate the intense experience of being in this world and our need to slow it down or to gather ourselves and search for peace. Rather than projecting my own limited perspective, I hope to engage the viewer in an aesthetic dialogue and create an opportunity for reflection and empathy.

Beauty is in every sentient being, and my portraits strive to capture the essence, the spontaneous presence and inner beauty of people, and often emanate a certain ethereal atmosphere. To me, the eyes are channels of introspection, discernment, awakening. They are mirrors of the soul. My more recent nature representations (series of nests and flowers) also emphasize our inter-beingness and shared consciousness.

In my more abstract artwork I often use, in addition to oils, other media such as plaster, wax, fabric, and pigments, to create textures that engage the viewer on a visceral level. Inspired by the radiance of nature, and other sentient beings around us, my compositions evoke the energy of the natural elements and draw attention to their balance.

Art has always been part of my life, from an early age. Often a refuge, a safe way of being, a space to freely express my feelings. I took many art classes over the years, but I also consider myself as self-taught.
 I used to teach French and German before I started to dedicate my vocational life to painting.

I was born and raised in France but have been living and studying abroad for a long time. Learning languages and opening myself up to new cultures and ways of life always fascinated me. A multicultural experience and education are, in my view, an exciting and lasting antidote to narrow-mindedness and self-centeredness. Adaptability, respect for others, and empathy are necessities of our interconnected lives.

When my children were born (some 20 years ago), I experienced the preciousness of life at first hand, and a subtle, inner transformation took place. I simultaneously became more aware of the impermanence and interdependence of everything, and I felt the urgency to create art to convey feelings of gratitude, peace and compassion. I also started to practice meditation and study the Buddhist way of life more seriously. Those experiences further extended my field of vision, eradicating more and more a sense of “self-absolutism”, the excessive concern for oneself. Nurturing a sincere interest in others, I want to portray people to the best of my ability.”  View more of Jannick’s art on her website: http://www.jannickwildberg.com/index.html