Published on 12, July, 2020
A few people have been talking about model-making recently, and showing photos of models they've made (Plastic). Sunflower, too, was commenting on Robert's photos of rooftops, saying how fascinating she finds them. I'm the same - and I think it's partly to do with seeing the world in miniature, as it were: looking down on the world and trying to figure out what's going on behind those doors and windows, under those rooftops. When I was a kid, we lived for a few years in a London tower block. I used to love nothing better than to go up to the top floor rubbish chute room alone and stand there, by the window, looking out at the windows on the rest of the estate and the surrounding streets. Looking at the toy cars and the ant-sized people going about their business far below. Seeing it all laid out like a 3D map in front of me.
I don't really make models myself, though I've often thought about taking it up. I know the fascination, though, of seeing these miniature versions of things - especially in mock-ups, like you find in some museums.
I thought people might find this article interesting. I'd not heard of Bekonscot before, but was instantly enthralled. I must try and pay it a visit sometime - on a quiet day.
Tim Dunn, one of the volunteer workers there, comments: "You mustn’t deride how people find their happiness. Many people with Asperger’s and autism find pleasure and a level of safety in making or looking at models, and if you’re an introvert, how better to spend your time?"
He's right, I think. For me, it's also about being able to establish a sense of order: 'I've created this, and I can make it work in a way that satisfies me.'
And it's a great way of releasing the imagination...
Shrinking the World
I've mentioned 'outsider artist' Henry Darger before, I think. Not a model-maker, but a writer and artist - and an extraordinarily creative and imaginative man.
He never published any of his work (which included a 15,145-page fantasy novel) or exhibited any of his hundreds of paintings and collages, and asked for them all to be destroyed after his death. He lived in the same one-room apartment in Chicago for over four decades whilst working as a hospital janitor, and is known to have had only one friend in that time. Definitely a spectrumite, I think!
'...Darger himself felt that much of his problem was being able to see through adult lies and becoming a "smart-aleck" as a result, which often led to his being disciplined by teachers and ganged up on by classmates. He also went through a lengthy phase of feeling compelled to make strange noises (perhaps as a result of Tourette's Syndrome) which irritated others'
His enormous creativity seems to have been sparked by a photograph, as the bio explains.
Henry Darger
There's also a number of videos about him on YouTube, including this short documentary.
The Secret Life and Art of Henry Darger
WARNING: some may find his imagery gruesome or otherwise disturbing.
Fascinating. The presenters made a fair few assumptions which shows they're clearly not of a similar mindset to him but they made a good presentation. I would love to read his memoir and see his art work.
It seems (to me) he was simply expressing himself, like all of us, in the best way he could and it seems he did a good job of it.
I've never heard of him before. Thanks for introducing him to us. He sounds like a truly remarkable person who had a good heart.