Brushstrokes of Dyslexia:
A Visual Narrative of Reading, Writing, and the Perception
- An Autoethnography
This project aims to explore the experience of dyslexia through the medium of visual language, using typography and imagery as tools of expression. By delving into personal narratives and observations, the design seeks to uncover the unique perspectives and challenges associated with dyslexia, while also highlighting the creative potential and ways of communication.
Area of research
Through visual experimental collections, the objective of this research is to show different ways to express dyslexia through different mediums. Drawings pertaining to culture, identity, and language overcoming the limitations of overemphasise textural communication. Visual exploration of art and design practices is also at the heart of my personal experience.
Project consists of :
- Visual Catalogue of Explorations
- 'Reading Homophones'
- "Read This!"
- Subconscious Drawing
- Automatic Drawing
- Painting Music
- Creative Process Journal
Visual Catalogue of Explorations:
Learning typography and drawing imagery that expresses a visual language.
My artistic exploration centers around the fusion of drawing, typography, and language. These elements seamlessly transition into a captivating realm of visual language. Abstract expressionist artists inspire my work, guiding me in achieving balance, emphasizing specific elements, and conveying profound emotions.
The incorporation of mark making enhances self-expression, and creativity. In creating this catalogue, I drew inspiration from various sources, including the innovative use of "Prouns" by El Lissitzky, whose approach serves as a creative influence. Overall, these influences are central to shaping my creative process and ongoing artistic journey.
The inspiration behind the 'Reading Homophones' project stems from my own experiences with mild dyslexia. It explores the challenges faced in differentiating words.
Homophones are words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. Inspired by Henri Matisse's technique of using bamboo stick and charcoal for drawing portraits, I've applied a similar approach to writing. Through this unique stylistic exploration, I aim to shed light on the obstacles that I've encounter in helping others understand that what seems like a simple task to everyone can be incredibly difficult for those with dyslexia.
"Read This!" is texts in typographical symbols that highlights the challenge of relying solely on visual cues for comprehension, emphasising the need to decipher each symbol to understand the intended meaning. This process mirrors the slower reading pace and constant frustrations. By immersing oneself in this experience, it becomes evident how reading becomes a slow, painstaking process, with each word requiring careful processing to ensure accuracy.
Subconscious Drawings
This process taps into the artist’s subconscious, making it a useful tool for self-expression, relaxation, therapy, and overcoming creative blocks. It can reveal hidden thoughts and emotions and is valued for its unstructured and spontaneous nature.
Automatic Drawings
Dyslexic individuals often possess strong visual thinking skills, enabling them to vividly imagine and visualise objects, scenes, and concepts. This ability is beneficial when creating visual art, such as body movement drawings, as it allows them to plan and conceptualise their work with rich mental imagery.
Painting Music
The project reflects how my study playlist supports my focus amidst dyslexia. It aims to go beyond visual representation, offering a multi-sensory. Incorporating tactile elements like stitching intends to allow people to touch and feel the materials, fostering an immersive experience that bridges the gap between observer and observed.
(On left to right)
Japanglish Katakana Explorations
The array of viewpoints and interpretations enhances our comprehension of human experiences and knowledge. Noticing parallels between recognizing Katakana characters and translating English, I became intrigued by how dyslexic individuals grasp their native language, particularly with logographic scripts. Exploring Japanese, particularly Katakana, I discovered numerous resemblances between its sounds and those of English. I speculated that this observation might shed light on how dyslexics navigate linguistic challenges.
I find that mastering Katakana poses difficulties because of its intricate strokes, which can complicate the process of memorisation.
Malay Reduplication
Misplacing words has the potential to significantly change their meaning. Dyslexia adds another layer of difficulty when it comes to handling affixes, and I aim to emphasise this aspect which might not be widely recognised. Upon analysis, I've observed that in Malay language, the repetition of words can lead to varied meanings.
Backwards & Reverse
Dyslexics often switch letters around, while a palindrome refers to a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward. I considered experimenting with this idea by using reverse italics to enhance clarity in both writing and speech.
Overall, this could lead to confusion or misunderstanding, hindering the comprehension of the word's meaning or spelling.
A Video Process of Making the Wall Installation
3 different wall installation set up in the studio
There are two sets of this book, documenting all the weeks in Creative Process Journal.
