“Neurodiversity is still such a hidden thing and no one wants to talk about it”
The Peak and the Pit exhibition at LCC addresses neurodiversity, the positives, negatives, and everything in between.
In honour of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, UAL student Shana Tufail has created a thought-provoking, interactive exhibition with the aim to get people talking about what it means to be neurodivergent at UAL. Shana is “on a mission to normalise neurodiversity” and provide a sense of community throughout UAL campuses.
The installation is tucked away in LCC’s Lower Gallery. With an interactive theme, the wall is currently a blank canvas waiting for UALs neurodiverse students to share their experiences, with the intention to create a supportive and inclusive community challenging the current narrative around these different ways of thinking.
It is estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK are neurodivergent, this includes attention deficit disorders, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Shana explained that “so many students are unaware of the support they can get” and that this exhibition “is just to kick start the dialogue on being neurodivergent at UAL.”
She added that UAL is a good place to be if you are neurodivergent due to the nature of the courses and the creative environment, “I think that is why we have a higher amount of neurodivergent students here.”
The title of the exhibition ‘Peak and the Pit’ was inspired by the Spiky Profile for neurodivergents. The graph below, which is part of the exhibition, highlights the ‘peaks’ and ‘pits’ (positives and negatives) of being neurodivergent and how that compares to people who think neurotypically — a great example of how this exhibition visually represents the topic.
Shana explains that “those that are neurodivergent are disconnected from each other and are going through challenges alone” and this exhibition aims to break the silence around stigmas and the silent battles people face when it comes to dealing with different ways of thinking.
“I want to talk about being neurodivergent and the challenges I face in the same way I would speak to someone if I had a cold or Covid, with the hope that people sympathise in the same way or know how to react — this exhibition is only the start of creating an open dialogue.”
The peak and the Pit exhibition is open to all UAL staff and students from 13th — 16th March at The Lower Gallery at LCC.
If you are unable to physically contribute to the exhibition you can add your thoughts to this Padlet and help to connect, support and celebrate neurodiversity at UAL. #ThisisND
