• Replies 13 replies
  • Subscribers 34 subscribers
  • Views 2601 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Autism and Art

NAS82522

Dear Community, 

I am an autistic artist and PhD researcher but there is something I continue to find very difficult and I am wondering who else has this experience? Whenever I am asked to describe what my work is about and what the deeper meanings might be I find this almost impossible on the spot, especially verbally. I can write and reflect but cannot seem to explain to my supervisors satisfaction. I have explained that I am Autistic but they still require me to quantify things verbally at every meeting. I seem to mask very well so I think people find it difficult to see me as Autistic but this type of situation, where there a vagaries of meaning unmask me completely, I have no idea how to deal with this or what alternatives I can give them! I am very literal and they want me to use very abstract theories that have subtleties of meaning I seem to miss... Any thoughts would be massively helpful. 

Parents

  • I would say play to your strengths and be a proud autistic artist. Celebrate the difference in your work from your non autistic peers. Explain the literal and logical way your brain works and how you interpret your work as a result. If you can't verbalise under pressure you should be able to show your written interpretations instead.

    Rather than unmasking you the situation seems to be pressurising you into masking more, beyond your limits. You are trying to say what you think your supervisor wants to hear, rather than the literal way you actually think.

Reply

  • I would say play to your strengths and be a proud autistic artist. Celebrate the difference in your work from your non autistic peers. Explain the literal and logical way your brain works and how you interpret your work as a result. If you can't verbalise under pressure you should be able to show your written interpretations instead.

    Rather than unmasking you the situation seems to be pressurising you into masking more, beyond your limits. You are trying to say what you think your supervisor wants to hear, rather than the literal way you actually think.

Children
No Data