Autistic Joy

Autistic Joy is a series of recorded conversations with artists, writers, makers & philosophers, that affirms the joyful aspects of neurodivergent, and specifcally autistic, experience.

Rather than see these conversations as interviews, or a “podcast,” they are framed as live peer-to-peer support . . . a kind of solidarity, where we can celebrate the joyful intensity of neurodivergent sensory experience, and by that I mean; autistic joy.

Autistic Joy was kindly supported by public funding through Arts Council England.

ERIN MANNING & VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION

Erin Manning studies in the interstices of philosophy, aesthetics and politics, concerned, always, about alter-pedagogical and alter-economic practices. Erin has written extensively about autistic perception and neurodivergence, always with a thrust towards thinking neurodivergence through process, movement and relation.

In this conversation we discuss autistic perception, neurodivergence in relation to education, academia and health, and the 3 Ecologies Institute, an exploration of the transversality of the three ecologies; the social, the environmental and the conceptual. An iteration of 3e is a land-based project north of Montreal where living and learning is explored; particularly the question of how collectivity is crafted in a more-than human encounter with worlds in the making.

Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion about mental health, mental health services, and sensory trauma.

ERIN MANNING & VICTORIA GRAY TRANSCRIPT

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LOUISA MARTIN & VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION

Louisa Martin is an artist working with immersive installations, sound, sculpture, live performances, text and videos. She explores sensorial, affective and sub-linguistic modes of communication to speak to embodied realities that don't fit in existing representational systems.

In this conversation we discuss The SOLA System, created by Louisa, which is a system of self-returning for late identified autistic creatives, and the "limits of normal" and techniques by which bodies that resist static and dominant forms of representation, can evolve their own means of self-definition.

Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion about Hans Asperger, the classification of autism in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the origins of autism in Nazi Vienna, and eugenicist practices.

LOUISA MARTIN & VICTORIA GRAY TRANSCRIPT

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MADELEINE RYAN AND VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION

Madeleine Ryan is an Australian writer and director. A Room Called Earth, her first novel, is an immersive account of the embodied experience of a young neurodiverse woman, attending a party.

In this conversation we discuss the symbiotic relationship between Madeleine's own late-diagnosis, and the writing of the book, as well as sensory experience, imagination, fantasy, trust and energy, in autistic bodies.

Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion about mental health, diagnostic assessment processes, and eating disorder.

MADELEINE RYAN & VICTORIA GRAY TRANSCRIPT

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ELINOR HAYES AND VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION

Elinor Hayes is a Creative Producer at Shape Arts, a disability-led arts organisation removing barriers to creative excellence, delivering a range of projects supporting marginalised artists, as well as training cultural venues to be more inclusive and accessible for disabled people as employees, artists.

In this conversation we discuss 'Welter' (2021), a film made in collaboration with artist Sam Williams, launched on 6 December with Shape Arts. Through an in-depth Q&A we delve into the ways in which language can simplify and obscure the complex and diverse sensory encounters that autistic people experience, and in response, how 'Welter' exploits ambiguity of language, form, and meaning.

Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion about mental health distress and eating disorder.

ELINOR HAYES & VICTORIA GRAY TRANSCRIPT

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MEGAN RHIANNON AND VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION

Megan Rhiannon is an autistic illustrator based between Reading and London. Megan’s work is inspired by day-to-day life and varied special interests. This and being autistic heavily influence Megan’s love and attention for detail, colour, texture and observational drawing.

In this conversation we discuss Megan’s self-published book ‘Existing Autistic’ (2020) which documents and explores her experiences as an autistic individual.

Content Warning: This conversation includes discussion about diagnostic assessment processes, autistic burnout, and concepts of high/low functioning.

MEGAN RHIANNON AND VICTORIA GRAY IN CONVERSATION TRANSCRIPT

[No audio, this conversation was conducted via email]