History, beauty, art, heritage- all these powerful values dissolve, dissipate, become transparent in the absence of equitable access.

Art in its instruction, production and consumption is a deeply multi-sensory act- and within that act lies its power but also its challenge for the Neurodivergent mind. This mind- and its embodied relationship to the physical space of art- may pendulate between sensory seeking and sensory avoiding. Without, however, the senso-spatio-socio physical infrastructure to enact this pendulation, places of art may remain inaccessible to the neurodivergent experience. They may become islands of beauty and self-expression out of reach for the Neurodivergent experience by virtue of the very power they embody- the power of the deeply- and often overwhelming- multi-sensorality.

This piece explores this paradox by presenting the Neurodivergent experience as existing between two notions- that of the historical palace, represented as a transparent almost invisible vessel- falling from its position of importance as an artifact in and of itself, and only valuable in that it holds the prospect of space for the Neurodivergent experience with art. This is juxtaposed with a freeform spatial infrastructure inspired by the Autism ASPECTSS EscapeScape. As a white organic connected spatial canvas, it follows anticipatory desire lines through the palace, and expands into Sensory Escape Spaces- points strategically placed to provide the opportunity for sensory seeking and sensory avoidance- represented in a neutral white to take on future possibilities ranging along the spectrum of neutrality to sensory stimulation- from the absence of colour to the possibility of the full colour spectrum.

I see this as a canvas for possible futures- spaces that can be appropriated to escape and regulate the senses, but also spaces for sensory exploration through color, light, texture, movement and sound.

by Magda Mostafa | StudioTM           
With production support from Kanzy Rammeya