This Is Where I Leave You by Alison Lam
At Studio KIND. at The Corn Store
30th March to 20th April 2024
Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 12-5pm
Private view: Friday 29th March, 6-8pm
Performance: Friday 29th March, 7pm
Alison Lam is a social practitioner, artist, educator, activist and mother.
As a neurodiverse, British-Chinese artist, Alison’s work explores difference, isolation, belonging and inclusion, and her practice facilitates conversations for people who sometimes find it hard to communicate. Stemming from her own personal experiences with her two sons, who are autistic with complex needs, Alison uses art and activism as a way to bridge these gaps and create a space that’s supportive and accessible.
‘This Is Where I Leave You’ explores the Cantonese proverb ‘a ghost covers one’s eyes’ (鬼揞眼 Gwai2 Ngam2 Ngaan5) signifying the tendency to overlook hidden truths in life. The work investigates how neurodivergence influences cross-cultural and cross-generational communication dynamics, particularly in the context of semiotics and the interplay between sign, signifier, and interpretation.
This new body of work aims to embrace and give peace and acceptance to those difficult moments, where communication breaks down. The power of words takes centre stage, offering an insight into a life that may be unfamiliar to many. By walking through this exhibition, Alison hopes to evoke serenity, calmness and reflection, reminding us that, sometimes, we find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The exhibition includes an installation of 54 lotus flowers on mirrored plates, which reference the 108 feelings in Buddhist traditions and the lotus flower as a symbol of rebirth and purity in Eastern cultures. Made from paper and cast in wax, porcelain and bronze, reflected in the mirrored surfaces that signify before and after life, the collection of lotus flowers explore fragility and legacy.
Working alongside Wilson So, an East-Asian illustrator who uses calligraphy in his own work, ‘Encrypted’ sees long lengths of papers with Chinese calligraphy carefully applied in black ink and gold leaf. The collaborative process of collecting and translating these spoken conversations into Chinese calligraphy subverts the traditional form and use of calligraphy, creating a juxtaposition between the beauty of the written language and the honesty of the translated text.
Many viewers will limited knowledge of reading calligraphy, this adds another barrier to understanding akin to navigating the complexities of communication within the neurodiverse families and communities.
On the opening night there will also be a performance by Bettina Fung | 馮允珊 called 'Inside Out, Outside In', a performative response to Alison’s exhibition. This performance is inspired by the space between opposing states, the tension between the desire for connection and the frustration of not being understood, as depicted in Alison’s work.
Alison will be running a series of workshops for people living with autism and their families/carers from 25th – 27th April.
Artist bio
Having completed an MA in Fine Art and Social Practice at Middlesex University, Alison has been the resident artist at Lauderdale House (supported by Camden Disability Youth Services), and has delivered workshops with Markfield Projects in Tottenham, Ambitious About Autism College, Resources for Autism, and with CRAE and UCL for the Wellcome Trust. Alison is also a guest lecturer for the MA in Inclusive Arts at Brighton University and Middlesex University, and in 2022 was awarded funding from Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice grants programme.