Spoon Theory Exhibition Catalogue

Spoon Theory
Essay by Jenni Curry
They say that to know one person
with autism means to have an
understanding of autism in that
individual only. In fact, autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) is named
as such to communicate the range
of challenges faced by individuals
with this diagnosis. Challenges can
include sensory sensitivity,
especially to noise, touch and taste,
a lack of awareness of social norms,
or difficulty in maintaining eye
contact. The spectrum is broad and
the people who are on it are
incredibly diverse, not just in how
they present, but in who they are.
Add being female to this diversity,
and getting a diagnosis and
subsequent support can become
even more challenging. Girls and
women tend to present with
different symptoms from what ASD
was previously understood to be,
and awareness of this difference is
still developing within the field of
mental health support today.
This exhibition showcases 18
spoons which represent different
emotions that the artist, Elizabeth
Curry, has experienced throughout
her life. Viewers may be able to
relate to some of these emotions or
recognise the themes within their
own experiences.
However, the spoons represent not
just passing emotions but emotions
which have been strong or
prominent for Elizabeth over many
years. These emotions have been a
driving force on her behaviour, and
at times have been controlling or
all-consuming. Remember, that just
because someone with autism
struggles to express what they are
feeling, does not mean they do not
feel, or feel to a lesser extent than
others. Sometimes, an emotion can
be so overpowering, the only course
of action is to shut-down.
This exhibition aims to open the
conversation on mental health,
especially ASD, depression and
anxiety. Through the use of a
common subject, the spoon,
Elizabeth stretches the bounds of
what we will recognise as a spoon in
order to communicate an idea. By
broadening our awareness of what it
feels like to live with an invisible
illness (or three), we are invited to
bring understanding and
compassion into our daily
interactions.
As you view each piece, I invite you
to ask yourself; ‘do I identify with
the emotion expressed in this
spoon?’, ‘can I understand why
someone else would feel what is
expressed in this spoon?’ and ‘can
we, in our everyday lives, create the
space for people to feel and express
emotions differently?’
Written by Jenni Curry with
assistance from Autism Awareness
Australia
Jenni Curry is a Canberra-based writer
with a Masters in Creative Writing
and published poetry and short stories.
She is a communications specialist and
supporter of the arts. She is proud to
have been able to watch the
development of Spoon Theory from its
initial inception.