For the female artist Lajla Skafte Bang the creative universe became her rescue, after a car accident left her invalid. Cph- art met her in cafe Metrobar.

It all started one day while Lajla was out bycykling with her 3 yr old daughter and was knocked off her bike when a man accidently opened his car door. Lajla was thrown over the car and landed in the middle of the road on her back. Luckly her daughter was unhurt thanks being the childseat that she was still strapped to the bike. Lajla at that moment found that she was inable to walk and thus this being the start of a 3 year period of being bedridden.Although Lajla was bedridden  during this time and had almost no physical activity her mental state was not effected by this.

Sometimes things happen for a reason that`s  unexplainable

This could explain the sudden visit of one of Lajla`s friends one day in December. With her she had bought a drawing Christmas calender gift. This meant that Lajla had a drawing exercise  working with light and shadow  that she had to do every day  throughout December. The ceative process that the calender commanded meant that Lajla could loose herself in the artwork which inevitably took her focus away from the constant pain she was in. A couple of days later Lajla had another  friend visit,  and she too had a gift for Lajla - Frida Kahlo`s  autobiography. The autobiography of a women whom had something in common with Lajla an accident involving her back. This book inspired Lajla in exactly the same way as Frida Kahlo became inspired, and with a great fighting courage overcame this obsticle and forthwright brought about her fantastic  creativity.

A few weeks later her calender freind popped over for tea and was pleasently surprised by the progress Lajla had made. This encouraged Lajla to start a self- educating program at home in the works of art. The proccess not only became training for this upcoming artist, but also a form of meditation which helped her out  of her pain infused medicinised state.  - It is my belief that when you do something that makes you happy it will inavertly effect and help heal inwardly.Throughout this long proccess I have learned that balance both physically and mentally are of great importance for the well being in life. Thus being happy in what you do or just happy in oneself creates a positive balance which reflects your life.

Z: Would you say then, that if you feel you are unable to do something or have no wish to do something then you have no joy in your life ?

- Firstly for me I had a choice either I could take the dark path or I could take the road with a light at the end of the tunnel. I took the latter which was by no means the easiest - I chose to do things that made me happy.

Z: Did you  have a feeling like things were planned or was it just a coincidence that 2 friends came by, first the calender and then the book?

- Yes I did, though not a total coincidence as I believe those gifts were meant to bring me peace and harmony, without them I probably wouldn`t have achieved it. You have to understand physically I was an enormously active person before the accident and I taught aerobiks  on a daily basis, so for me relaxing and doing nothing was an  extreemly difficult and stressfull period. I have come a long way and the creative learning proccess of finding my inner peace is the  journey that has made me the person I am today. For me the most important thing here in life is to be  both happy and to be able to bring joy to other peoples life - thus having the ability to create positive energy. My paintings are a reflection of the learning proccess I have been through and the importance of happiness in life.

Z: What about the pain you endured has it elapsed?

- No not entirely, I am still in pain from time to time and thankfully I can get through the worst times without medication, due to a little self help medicine in the form of acupuncture and a pain therapist. My main focus though is the intense concentration level I have developed when I paint. Mylife has been turned upside down since the accident, even though I can`t run or make sudden wild movements which I miss terribly I have had to adjust and limit myself.

Z: But it has not held you back or even stopped you in your tracks! You are developing new techniques and really making a name for yourself on the art scene.

- No it hasn`t. I got into the habbit of painting and it is something I take very seriously. It all started  back in 2001 with drawing sketches and then I progressed to painting on canvas in 2003. The whole painting proccess period developed very quickly and in 2005 I held my first exihition. It has been a valueable learning proccess for me to see the progress I have made over the last few years.I have learned to become creative and this has helped me overcome the challenges I have faced, it has also given me a whole new prospect in the way I think.

Z: You have 2 pictures of Dalai Lama in your collection, why is that?

- I think that Dalai Lama plays an important role in the world today. He represents one of the most important virtues in life ... love. He is also a great leader of his people and was exiled out of his own country. I think he is a unique person who has dedicated his life to helping others.

I read one of his books  - The art of a happy life. One of his attitudes to life is that we have to solve our problems as best as we can but if we can`t then we must let them go and move on in life. I think he is a very wise man who has a down to earth attitude and outlook on life. He is of great inspiration to me so it was natural of course that I paint him.One of the messages he sends out to the world is one I use daily. If I don`t take my own pain seriously then  I am unable to take responsability of my life  and it won`t get better. The same can be said in all aspects of life. It is a shame we don`t allways find the time in our everyday lives to experiance inner peace and calmness or to ask ourselves what is our purpose in life.It is truely a great gift to be at one with oneself and to know you have chosen the right path in life.

- I have also painted Nelsom Mandela he has also a personality that is unique. As with D.L he too comes from a different background and is a leader of his people who has spent most of his life in prison, this is why I have painted N.M face in one face both as old and young.

Z: Would you say it is your belief that bad things happen for a reason and often turn out to be a  valueable lesson in life, and that sometimes the good things in life have a down side if one takes them for granted?

- Yes definately! I think we need to listen to each other and carry on asking questions to find our aim in life. I truely believe by finding your aim in life makes you a happier person. This is of course not as easy as it sounds and at times can be thoroughly confusing especially if you have many desires at once. I am very lucky I have found my aim in life  - the thing that makes me happy.

Z: Sometimes we think to much over life too, and of all the things we could do only if we had everything we required. But if we had everything we required would it make us happy?  Would we be contented with the person we were before we had it all? The real question we need to ask is  what can we do that makes us happy? If you are not doing the thing that makes you happy then you need a change of circumstances. Take responsibility of your ownhappiness instead of expecting others to bring it to you.

Interview and photo: Zenia Grynberg

  www.lajlaismy.name