Aimee Spencer
Belonging
As a sensory artist, I focus on how best to engage and express sensory systems with art. Currently, I consider eight of the sensory systems within my work: vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, vestibular (balance), proprioception (the body’s awareness of where it is in space), and interoception (the body’s internal senses, such as hunger, thirst, etc).
My goal is that by sharing my arts practice, I hope to bridge the divide between those who experience the world through a primarily sensory lens and those, like us, who experience it primarily linguistically. To aid me in this journey I have explored many different creative approaches with individuals who have profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). Inspired by Joanna Grace, I sought to avoid something she spoke of that "...art for people with PMLD can often be a process of having things done to them, rather than getting the chance to do."
Through my research I was influenced by sensory spaces: inclusive, multi-sensory environments. Which led to me designing and creating a transportable sensory art space, with the dual purpose of holding sensory art sessions and exhibiting the resulting work. To me, the beauty of it was that I would have no idea exactly what participants would do. I simply provided materials and did my best to support their wishes. I strongly believe opportunities were created for independence, autonomy, choice, and communication.
One final development of this space, was to transform it into a new environment, using participants artwork and favoured materials. It became a space that reflected my participants being given the chance to do.
