Lilya Taylor

Mixed Media over printed cotton

29.5 x 42 x 2cm

 Part of the Neurodivergent Collection

I wanted something that represented ADHD in all its diversity - the good and the bad. The overall colours and pattern give out the expected chaos, energy and creativity that ADHD can manifest. The circles of wool spiral, symbolic of how our minds can ruminate on thoughts over and over or hyperfocus on one thing for hours on end. As the colours change, so does our mood, exhaustion levels and the level of executive dysfunction we realise we have neglected in that time. The face is an unknown emotion. It could be anger, frustration, sadness, or simply pulling faces in a mirror. A mirror into how difficult it can be to pinpoint what we are feeling in that moment.

The white ribbon, highlighted with pink and embroidered with red words represents a bandage - a link to self-harm, addiction and self-medication that plagues many with ADHD. On it are the words that almost all people with ADHD have heard. "Why don't you just try harder" and a self-medication short of a meme "In it for the dopamine." A subtle hint to technology and doom-scrolling. The teal, blue and yellow that overlap with it symbolises a night cycle, as a lot of ADHD people tend to be night owls and that's when our huge ideas or spiralling anxiety can peak.

The triangles show how our attention or focus can often be split in at least three different directions, the light green one in particular pointing to the hyperfocus, the self-medication/addiction and the frustration of the woman's face.

Lastly, with metallic thread and wire, I have applied a version of kintsugi (Japanese craft of repairing ceramics and pottery with gold to highlight their history and glorify imperfections to make new beauty) to this piece. I wanted to tell the story of how a person with ADHD can go through so much trauma, rejection and self-doubt in their lives, but through our creativity, our personalities and minds are still valued and seen as beautiful. That we can overcome the hardships of what life has thrown at us to become something new, powerful and truly wonderful.

Embroidery over printed cotton

59 x 41.5 x 2cm

Part of the Mental Health Collection 

These words may be familiar to those who are neurodivergent, chronically ill or mentally ill, whether it is words we believe about ourselves or have had others say out loud to us. It's a stark reminder of how such words can affect how we feel about ourselves, how we interact with others, advocating and our personal sense of intrinsic value in modern society.

This piece is a reaction to the unstable job market that many neurodivergent and chronically ill people are restricted from, the toxic stereotype of benefits and the ableist view of capitalism that our self-worth is tied to our economical productivity. We are more than cogs in a machine! Be kind to yourselves and your loved ones. Photograph personally taken and printed onto 100% cotton. Embroidered with thread and acrylic wool.