Life on a Spectrum
Mahlias's exhibition has now finished. See below for a walk through and Mahlia’s artist talk.
Our last virtual exhibition as a part of our Creative Wellbeing commissions features the work of Mahlia Amatina. Mahlia’s exhibition Life on a Spectrum was available on our website from the 20th of October 2020.
The virtual gallery space has been created in partnership with designer Liam Mason.
After being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2015, Mahlia was inspired to share the unique sensory experiences of life on the autism spectrum through her art. Working around the theme of neurodiversity, Mahlia has transformed her signature style of abstract colourism into a unique, interactive, multi-sensory experience that invites viewers to engage on a level that works for them.
Mahlia has regularly been awarded Arts Council England (ACE) grants, including the ‘Developing your Creative Practise’ fund, and has been featured as one of the ‘Top 50 Influential Neurodiverse Women’ by Women Beyond the Box.
Inspired by her arts-led advocacy work on neurodiversity, ‘Life on a Spectrum’ is an interactive exhibit that uses visual art, writing and videography to involve viewers to directly partake. The work builds on previous autism-related exhibitions ‘On a Spectrum – an exploration of Asperger’s syndrome’ and ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’, as well as an arts-based project on ‘Women and Autism’ created in New York City. The aim is to educate visitors about neurodiversity; to contemplate their own health and wellbeing, and to reflect where they and others may fit on the spectrum.
Artist talk: Jennifer Gilbert & Mahlia Amatina.
Watch a walk through of the Life on a Spectrum exhibition.
Below are all the links to the video’s within this exhibition if you would like to watch them in full:
Video 1
Title: What is Asperger's? Dr Trevor Powell talks to Mahlia Amatina about Asperger's Syndrome
Description: With over ten years of working in the clinical field of Asperger's, Consultant Neuropsychologist Dr Trevor Powell talks to Artist Mahlia Amatina and looks at what Asperger's is and isn't - as well as an examination of differences in gender representation and typical traits that are experienced by those on the spectrum.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAoZCvbhyQY
Video 2
Title: Mahlia Amatina reflects discusses the first art exhibition since her Autism diagnosis
Description: Interview with Mahlia Amatina that examines the background to previous art exhibition ‘On a Spectrum – an exploration of Asperger’s syndrome’ (her first since diagnosis) that built up and led to this current body of work. Other topics around what is Asperger’s syndrome, diagnosis and what this means to Mahlia, as well as the purpose of the exhibition are also explored in this video. More can be learnt about this specific exhibition here: https://www.mahliaamatina.com/on-a-spectrum
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzFSoExiB1U
Video 3
Title: Behind the Scenes with respondents at Art Exhibition ‘On a Spectrum – an exploration of Asperger’s syndrome’
Description: Joined by respondents, this video takes a behind-the-scenes look at the thought-process that went into the questionnaire responses, which helped form the paintings at art exhibition 'On a Spectrum - an exploration of Asperger's syndrome'. This was an important body of work as it led to future exhibitions around autism and neurodiversity. More can be learnt about this specific exhibition here: https://www.mahliaamatina.com/on-a-spectrum
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1DOvI8tneo&t=221s
Video 4
Title: Trigger Situation: Ticking Clock
Description: Mahlia sits alone with a ticking clock for 30 minutes. As someone on the autistic spectrum, this constitutes as a trigger situation for Mahlia. Watch on the see what impact this has – and how visible it is, if at all. Full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm4_6Q5a5LE&t=281s
Video filmed, produced and edited by G K Field and Tim Wilson.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm4_6Q5a5LE&t=281s
Video 5
Title: Trigger Situation: Multi-Tasking
Description: Mahlia undergoes a series of multi-tasking activities for 20 minutes. As someone on the autistic spectrum, this constitutes as a trigger situation for Mahlia. Full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1B_TijUGOg&t=4s
Video filmed, produced and edited by G K Field and Tim Wilson.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1B_TijUGOg&t=4s
Video 6
Title: Trigger Situation: Overlapping Sounds
Description: Mahlia sits alone listening to overlapping sounds coming from three different devices –at the same time. For 30 minutes, non-stop. As someone on the autistic spectrum, this constitutes as a trigger situation for Mahlia. Full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJZokQYGc74
Video filmed, produced and edited by G K Field and Tim Wilson.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJZokQYGc74
Video 7
Title: Trigger Situation: Flashing Lights
Description: I sit alone in front of bright, flashing lights for 30 minutes. As someone on the autistic spectrum, this constitutes as a trigger situation for Mahlia. Full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxBLakrJbUY&t=178s
Video filmed, produced and edited by G K Field and Tim Wilson.