An ongoing exploring my life growing up as an undiagnosed autistic girl. Combining photography, illustrations, felt craft, archival matter, found objects and text to communicate my stories. Inspired by lore and fairytales from I grew up with.
‘A Helm of Duality‘
As a late diagnosed autistic woman, I struggle to know when I am masking as I am a very open person. Masks can be heavy but they can also be weightless. I have and will always wear my soul on my sleeve, but since being diagnosed I still question myself as to what is true and what is self-preservation. can you be a princess and a knight, can you be the protector and the protected?
‘Tarred Wings‘
I grew up being the odd duckling, I couldn’t figure out why I thought and felt so differently. So in my adolescence I tried to hide and conform. Now I refuse to change myself for the comfort of others. No more will I have tarred wings.
The Princess and the Clementine
I remember reading ‘The Princess and The Pea’ when I was younger and just thought that it sounded so ridiculous. How could someone feel a pea under so many mattresses. Until I sat back and thought about the lengths I go to, and the reactions I have to overstimulation. Sand. My sensory nemesis. I love going to the beach, but I find sand such a nightmare. The thought of the littlest piece of sand on my skin over my clothes makes me shudder.
Then, there are things that cause both negative and positive stimulation. I love clementines, the sourness and the texture, but I can stand the pith. I spend more time removing that, then I do eating them. Maybe the princess wasn’t so ridiculous after all.
