I am a London-based artist with work consisting of paintings, embroideries, prints and ceramics. I have a fascination with the natural world, and view animals as artworks themselves. Creatures and nature are often incorporated into my works, often in the form of animal-headed people/deities. I am also heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhist art and symbolism, thanks to my heritage which is Yolmo, a Tibetan ethnicity that has lived and settled in Nepal for generations.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which has helped me enormously in embracing myself not only as an artist, but as a human being. I think being on the spectrum is a good thing, and that more autistic and neurodivergent artists should be highlighted in the art world.
Hart Club
Hart Club is an organisation that works to celebrate neurodiversity in the art world. I am so proud to say I took part in the year-long Hart School course, starting in July 2021 and ending in July 2022. Since being with Hart Club, I have met so many friendly, kind people who uphold Hart Club’s ethos: to champion neurodiversity in the arts and showcase work that otherwise might not be seen. Facilities such as a ceramics studio, print studio and gallery space are provided for artists, and there is an overall atmosphere of inclusivity and collaboration. To find out more about this wonderful organisation, click here
Collaborations and Commissions through Hart Club
Thanks to Hart Club and the excellent opportunity it has provided in meeting artists and collaborators, I have been involved in some exciting projects I absolutely loved!
Doña
I was commissioned by Lucie, a member of Hart Club and owner of Doña, a bar in Stoke Newington. The bar sells delicious cocktails and hosts wonderful events that provide a safe space for women and queer people. Not only that, you can also see the mural I painted on the wall leading into it! The mural uses a colour palette mainly consisting of reds and pinks, and includes swirly dancing people celebrating femininity.
Doyenne
Myself and fellow Hart School artist Serafina collaborated with female-run skate brand Doyenne to create designs for T-shirts under the theme ‘freedom to be weird’. We imagined a world that caters for neurodivergent people, and also took part in the screen printing process.
E Numbers
Jané Mackenzie is an artist from Hart Club who has hosted two neuroqueer events under the name of ‘E Numbers’. These beautiful nights include art and installation, performance, poetry, film and music. E Numbers is a celebration of neurodiversity, and offers the chance for neurodivergent artists to show their work and convey their lived experiences to others.
‘“I was blown away by the work I saw”: the Turner Prize and the rise of neurodiverse art’
A Guardian article by Rhiannon Lucy-Cosslett about neurodiversity in the arts, and the artists and art collectives working to make the industry a more inclusive one. Myself and Helen Ralli from Hart Club feature in this, which is so exciting and such an honour! Click here to give it a read :)
The Art of Masking: Autistic Women and their Experiences of Diagnosis
Click here to read this insightful article by Sally Patterson.
I was very honoured she interviewed me alongside other creative women diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Do give it a read! I think it’s important we all come to understand how neurodiverse our species is.
Transcending Boundaries
I got involved with something very exciting: the Transcending Boundaries online exhibition curated by the Yakpo Collective. The Yakpo Collective is an artist-run organisation that showcases contemporary artwork by Tibetans, creating a safe space for those of us in the Tibetan diaspora to find our voices and exhibit our unique outlook on the world. I was so pleased to be a part of this exhibition and to showcase my interpretation of the theme; it certainly felt like I was joining an incredibly creative and beautiful community!
The exhibition ran from 20th September 2020, and was extended to the 31st October. I wrote a blog post about my experience of it, explaining the two pieces I contributed and how they relate to the theme. Also, click here to explore the Yakpo Collective website.
