An Abstract:

From the calm of his childhood photographic Darkroom, created in his bedroom cupboard, the once Little Boy with a Torch shines his light on a new immersive experience with this intimate installation....

"You hear the birdsong, slowly you start to move, momentum builds during the sounds of breakfast, the door bell stands out like a scream, the dog barks, then everything falls back to silence.
The walk to the bus....momentum builds again, traffic gives a rhythm ........the emergency services deafen you.
Waiting on the platform in morning silence with the other commuters, no words just the interruptions of rings and bleeps of notifications...the distraction of a train announcement,....you didn't listen , you hear the conversation far down the platform between the angry passenger and ticket collector.....

... the commute to work, the noise, the cramped space, the momentum and rhythm increases again, your heart rate is up,  breathing quickens. The hum of the office lights, the flicker of the meeting room lights. The social overload of the work canteen. The five a side football in the park, the falling over ...the bounce of the ball.
The evening drink on the way home. What do I say, how can I fit in?  Where can I sit that will feel ok? Listening to conversations over there, not present.

Tranquility of home, the telly turned down the blue screen giving a buzz....to bed, the tick of Tinnitus.

Silence, sleep, solitude

Calm is restored, reflection is re-purposed back in the Darkroom when the lights come back on.

The Project:

We are developing a project of intriguing light and sound. Using audio visual technology to illustrate what it is like to feel “not normal” in a world outside today’s Darkroom Door; a place where we are constantly distracted and bombarded by technological notifications and the inconvenience of convenience in everyday life, complicating and overwhelming social interaction....We are exploring our sensory reactions to an ever busier and technological environment, a world increasingly difficult for both neurodivergent and neurotypical people to find peace, stability and calm.

Our goal is to inform understanding and create meaningful conversations about sensory sensitivity within our environment, and how it can affect daily life in ways that are deeply enriching, and other times, overwhelming or disabling.

This project is grounded in on going research and lived experience. We’re committed to developing it in an ethically respectful way, shaped by the voices of all neurotypes. We hope to further develop the installation, with the goal of adapting and re-purposing it for schools, workplaces, and community spaces across Bristol. — to educate, foster empathy, and spark open conversations about what it’s like to live with neurodiversity. By making these sensory experiences accessible in everyday environments, we hope to create a deeper understanding and lasting positive social impact in the community.

If you identify as neurodivergent or neurotypical, please sign up below to stay in the loop.

If you have a spare 5 minutes it would be great for you to take the quiz to help inform us using the QR code below.

Thank You.