The Many Faces of Sarah Miriam

This video is a compilation of different performative art pieces I have created to represent my experiences masking as an autistic woman. As someone who has wrested with many invisible disabilities in my life, part of my healing process is making these experiences visible through art. Through painting directly on my body, clothing, and using symbolic objects within my home, I am able to capture facets of my identity that may otherwise remain hidden. As an empath, I often struggle with how to process through the depth of my emotions. Artwork gives me a medium to channel my ocean of feelings, as the pigments give voice to the unspeakable. In a world built upon small talk and the often inauthentic “I’m okay”, there can seem to be little space to actually express how you are feeling—to cry, mourn, and release our silent struggle in community. Through capturing my range of daily emotions through art, it was an incredibly cathartic experience to bring light to these  unshared moments. Through vulnerability we can diminish shame, and I hope to continue normalizing that “it is okay to not be okay”, and to pass on the message that you do not need to struggle in isolation. You are held within a container of support—you are not alone.