The Line

Artist 

Annelies Gentile

Medium

Mixed Media (silver pearl white acrylic paint, grit medium, silver mica, magnets, and mini-canvas suspended by monofilament line on canvas and wood)

Category 

Abstract

Dimensions

Triptic panels (24"x30") 72"x90"

Artwork Description

The Line" represents men's mental health; the search for meaning and movement towards improvement of men's mental health and the resistance to be fully seen.

 "The Line" explores the unspoken, hidden and sometimes destructive ways men hold in and hold back how they really feel, either because they don't feel safe to emote or don't know how.

"The Line" represents aspects of mental health that sound and look like, the "line in the sand", "the snapping point", the need to be enough, and subsequent unspoken anger and shame.

"The Line" is a gentle invitation, a soft intent to be present to one's development of inner awareness, expression and personal growth.

Its message: you are enough.

The black vertical line was snapped on using a long rubber exercise band dipped in black paint. Secured top and bottom then held high and released. The wildness and specificity against the white pearl reveals strong contrast of unleashed emotion. A point of no return.

The revolving micro-canvases represent emotional instability, masking and blending in. One micro canvas contains opposing magnets that represent and display inner fight, resistance. This causes both stability and gyrations.

Magnets are hidden behind other areas of the canvas which are secret invitations to be mindful and listen to the signs of inner suffering.

A string of Self-Care Bells represents the signs or phenomena the body gives to pay attention. The sizes progress from small to large bells pointing to the body's way of nudging in tiny ways to pause, rest, self-care, nourish mental/emotional/physical needs first. The sized bells build to bigger warnings.

The bells can be moved around to find other "tugs" on the canvas where magnets draw them in. Again, representation of an invitation for deep listening, slowing down, noticing. It helps to take deep breaths while taking the Self-care bell's for a walk along the canvas to see where they might get drawn closer in.

Notes: There are very few places that are strong enough for the Self-Care Bells rest. This is a metaphor for the few safe places men seem to have to recuperate for long term wellbeing. The goddess ring on which the bells are suspended represents the invitation to include feminine qualities in life and in soul and shadow-self care.

The intent of the artwork is to invite breakdowns to become breakthroughs. From a distance, the words "Help", "Hope" and "Free" are abstractly inferred.

-Annelies Gentile

Additional Details

Unframed, Ready to hang

This painting is currently on view at the Southeast Regional Library in Garner, NC as part of the Unspoken men's mental health exhibition through the end of June 2025. If you purchase this artwork, it will be delivered to you once the exhibition ends.

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