Exhibition focuses on mother’s autistic son
A mother shares her heartfelt journey into the chaos and confusion of autism in a new exhibition showing at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery this month.
Through the Looking Glass is Gladstone mother and artist Melanie Jai’s artistic endeavour to understand the inner world of her autistic son.
Ms Jai has created a series of whimsical paintings to help reach the fairytale land of villains and heroes that her son so often retreats to.
“Each artwork tackles a base emotion that we all experience at some time, the difference being that Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) sufferers experience these strong emotions all the time,” she said.
“This has become my inspiration, my vessel through which to feel what my son feels, to attempt to understand his world.”
Ms Jai said she hopes to inspire understanding, compassion and acceptance for those who struggle to communicate emotions themselves.
“ASD sufferers access a different part of their brain than we do, making them process information differently,” she said.
“They interpret communication differently.
“They interpret communication in a very black and white manner, making facial expressions, humour, colloquialisms, and slang, difficult to comprehend.”
The exhibition is part of Queensland Arts Council’s Ontour onexhibition program.
Ontour onexhibition manager Mia Kempel said that by focusing on child-like subjects such as Alice in Wonderland, Little Red Riding Hood, puppets and dolls, the works evoke an imagined adventure trail of Ms Jai’s son’s experiences.
“By using a highly stylised version of herself as the protagonist in each image, Melanie engages you in a gentle commentary on what it must be like to experience the strong emotions, chaos and confusion associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD),” said Ms Kempel.
“Through the Looking Glass is honest and original in its intent, with a fondness for the deep recesses of the human mind and heart.”
The official opening of the exhibition will be held on Friday, July 2, starting at 6pm.
The Northern Rivers Community Gallery is located at 44 Cherry Street, Ballina, and open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
For more information on Through the Looking Glass or Ontour onexhibition visit www.qac.org.au or contact the Northern Rivers Community Gallery on 6681 6167.
