Film: artwork statement

Arts House Listening Program

(Film): Culture expressed through gesture, sensations all over, and the way the world understands itself: we don’t want to put anything in here that doesn’t make it better. --- I wanted to obscure the meaning for the audience, because my experience of autism feels obscure for me. I asked everyone the hardest political questions that I don’t know the answer to. Many of them are not even in my minority. They all reported being put on the spot was quite confronting for them. Even though they understand deeply what autism and stimming means, under the lens of examination and the glare of the spotlights, they found it hard to find the words to answer these questions. That’s why there is so much giggling. I didn’t want to tell anyone what to think. It’s easy to have a closed conversation, I want to open the conversation. I want to express culture through gesture, the words are secondary to me. Because when I hear people talk in real life I listen first to their body. I asked a neuroscientist, OT, support workers and some autistic people. I cut all the cute apolitical bits out. Where I feel like I am seeing their humanity and an aspect of autistic culture. I don’t know if it’s politically correct for you to guess who is autistic. I want people to identify my culture. I don’t want people to pathologise me. I want everyone to feel through the bodies of my community and participate in our collective stim. Concept, Director, Camera Operator & Interviewer: Mishka Collaborating Camera Operator, Video & Sound Editor: Mish Szekelyhidi Film Contributors: Aarti Jadu, Mish Szekelyhidi, Zoë Barry, Evelyn Ida Morris, Lia Dewey Morgan, Alyes Brown, Natalie Pawlus, Edith Gilfedder, Prue Stevenson, Stella Schiftan, Cynthia Sobraty, Rouana Barber, Catherine Smyth-McMullen, Anna Dylag, Emily Kostos