My concentration is inspired by my younger brother, Robert Anthony. He is a nonverbal autistic child who struggles to express himself. Robert Anthony uses other alternatives to show or communicate his emotions and his needs. My concentration depicts different approaches of communicating emotions and speech without the vocalization of words.
I depict various attributes of communication without the vocalization of speech, but also the emotional aspect of managing a child that has difficulty in expressing his or her self. My concentration begins with a broken clock and puzzle pieces that do not fit together (Image 1). It depicts the unfulfilling and broken feeling of not being able to communicate how you feel nor being able to understand those who cannot communicate their emotions and desires. Living with a nonverbal brother who struggles to communicate himself, finding alternate ways for him to communicate can be difficult. Pictures exchange communication system and sign language (images 3 and 4) are common ways for him to communicate. It effectively tells the recipient what he wants and feels. Images 10, 11, and 12 are pieces that depict how my brother expresses himself emotionally. Image 10, when scared, he will cover his eyes. Although with enough curiosity, he will peak from his closed fingers. Image 11, pinching is a way for him to release anger or frustration toward something or someone. Image 12, self-flagellation; he hits himself when he feels overwhelmed or frustrated that he cannot tell someone how he feels or what he wants. My portfolio depicts the emotional and physical communication without the exchange of words. |