Encountering A New Normal

Encountering A New Normal
‘Encountering A New Normal’ is an online exhibition showcasing the work of Neurodiverse Artists who experience misogyny or trans misogyny.

With mediums from dance to drawing, poetry to performance, each artist’s work is accompanied by an explorative audio description. Normally considered to be solely an accessibility resource, these audio descriptions will aim to deepen the relationship between the work and the viewer. These audio descriptions were coauthored in groups of 3 artists.

These artists are part of a network which provides a space for neuro-diverse artists to come together online, stimulate one another’s creative processes, share work on a regular basis, and support one another.

This project is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Shape Arts. The website was put together by Alicia Radage with WordPress support from Chris Stokes and assistance from Sofía Castro.

Established in August 2020, Alicia Radage felt the need for a community for artists who create through the shared lens of Neurodiversity and those who have experienced forms of misogyny including trans misogyny. The intention for this group is to create a space for neuro-diverse people who experience misogyny and/or trans misogyny including, including but not limited to trans women, cis women, trans feminine people, AFAB people, non-binary or gender queer folk, and anyone for whom woman or female is, or has been, a significant part of their identity and / or lived experience.

The network started meeting online, creating shared resources for one another and sharing and feedbacking upon one another’s work.

When Radage received Arts Council England funding for the facilitation of the group and an accessible online exhibition of the artists’ work, the group gathered to discuss how to realise the project. In terms of accessibility, the network decided to produce audio descriptions of the works. In groups of 3, audio descriptions for 3-4 artists’ works were coauthored.

These audio descriptions blend both the clear guidelines of how audio descriptions should be sculpted and individual, creative and poetic interpretation into the artworks.

Throughout the process, the fantastic Shape Arts provided generous artist support and training towards the project.

Alicia Radage’s statement on the exhibition is: ‘My intention for this group is to create a space for neuro-diverse people who experience misogyny and/or trans misogyny including, including but not limited to trans women, cis women, trans feminine people, AFAB people, non-binary or gender queer folk, and anyone for whom woman or female is, or has been, a significant part of their identity and / or lived experience. I’m really grateful to the people who took the time to educate me that my use of the word “womxn” worked against the aims of the group and how it is a term which has been weaponised by TERFS. I’ve taken steps to remove the word “womxn” from all content for this project and I’m sorry for the hurt caused by my not knowing. In the future I will take more care and continue to educate myself on language so that this project and my further work can be more inclusive.’

The artists who co-authored the audio descriptions are:
Aisling Gallagher

Alicia Radage

Amalia Vitale

Amelia Baron

Ashley-Louise McNaughton

Colleen Bartley

Emily Warner

Fritha Jenkins

Gemma Boyd

Helen Davison

Kelsie Acton

Ro Hardaker

Selina Bonelli

Susanna Dye