Jas Howson
Series of Craft Wire fixed against painted 54 x 40 Plywood Boards
“Stimming” refers to the conscious and subconscious repetition of physical movements, sounds, and words. Everyone stims, but it is often a more prominent trait in neurodivergent individuals. I like to think of my wire sculptures as physical manifestations of the ways in which I, an autistic person, stim.
Deriving from the practice of automatic drawing, my sculpting process involves bending, coiling, and clamping craft wire. As I produce them, I do
Deriving from the practice of automatic drawing, my sculpting process involves bending, coiling, and clamping craft wire. As I produce them, I do
not have any expectations and predetermined ideas. Embracing the challenging and unpredictable nature of the materials I work with allows for my sculptures to emerge and progress organically, allowing their distinct personalities to surface.
Alongside each sculpture, I
Alongside each sculpture, I
present their respective blind drawing. I create these ink and pencil drawings with my eyes closed, feeling a sculpture with one hand, and drawing what I think it looks like with the other. The result, through my juxtaposition of textures, mediums, and senses, is a work that depicts the autistic experience: striving to replicate the neurotypical behaviours that society rewards and caters toward, but never quite being able to do so.
The process of creating these automatic sculptures has been particularly important to me, as I have utilised this mode of creation in a way that has enabled me to explore and embrace my neurodivergent identity.
The process of creating these automatic sculptures has been particularly important to me, as I have utilised this mode of creation in a way that has enabled me to explore and embrace my neurodivergent identity.