Jenni Curry

They say that to know one person with autism means to have an understanding of autism in that individual only. In fact, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is named as such to communicate the range of challenges faced by individuals with this diagnosis. Challenges can include sensory sensitivity, especially to noise, touch and taste, a lack of awareness of social norms, or difficulty in maintaining eye contact. The spectrum is broad and the people who are on it are incredibly diverse, not just in how they present, but in who they are.

Add being female to this diversity, and getting a diagnosis and subsequent support can become even more challenging. Girls and women tend to present with different symptoms from what ASD was previously understood to be, and awareness of this difference is still developing within the field of mental health support today.

This exhibition showcases 18 spoons which represent different emotions that the artist, Elizabeth Curry, has experienced throughout her life. Viewers may be able to relate to some of these emotions or recognise the themes within their own experiences.

However, the spoons represent not just passing emotions but emotions which have been strong or prominent for Elizabeth over many years. These emotions have been a driving force on her behaviour, and at times have been controlling or all-consuming. Remember, that just because someone with autism struggles to express what they are feeling, does not mean they do not feel, or feel to a lesser extent than others. Sometimes, an emotion can be so overpowering, the only course of action is to shutdown.

This exhibition aims to open the conversation on mental health, especially ASD, depression and anxiety. Through the use of a common subject, the spoon, Elizabeth stretches the bounds of what we will recognise as a spoon in order to communicate an idea. By broadening our awareness of what it feels like to live with an invisible illness (or three), we are invited to bring understanding and compassion into our daily interactions.

As you view each piece, I invite you to ask yourself; ‘do I identify with the emotion expressed in this spoon?’, ‘can I understand why someone else would feel what is expressed in this spoon?’ and ‘can we, in our everyday lives, create the space for people to feel and express emotions differently?’