Sickly & Nauseous, ‘A very serious, sweet, sick dream world’

A very serious, sweet, sick dream world is a spatial exploration of how a neurodiverse existence feels from the perspective of fem-presenting individuals.

2 – 25 November 2022

Opening night: Thursday 3 November, 5.30-7.30pm. Free, but RSVP essential via Eventbrite

Lots of differently coloured paintings on small pieces of paper. There is also a larger painting on fabric that’s been scrunched up and attached to the wall, and one draping from the wall which is mostly bright pink in colour but has bursts of yellow, green and purple. The colours are almost neon but always very bright. Sickly & Nauseous (Holly Goodridge, Grace Martyn, Josephine Ayton), installation image, 2021. Courtesy the artists.

A very serious, sweet, sick dream world is a spatial exploration of how a neurodiverse existence feels from the perspective of fem presenting individuals. Neurodiversity is often presented as an experience that is had in isolation. We began this collaboration as a way to showcase a synergetic art-making process that gives the audience an embodied multi-sensorial experience from our neurodivergent perspective.

Through this hybridisation of drawing, the ready-made, soft sculpture and installation, this project will have painting as a medium transcending its two-dimensional limitations, in the same way, this collaborative project will be subverting the traditional understanding of what neurodiversity looks like outside of the cis-male body.

Fully living in our neurodiversity and bringing it to the forefront of our lives is the single most important act of resistance. In previous stages of our lives we have felt misplaced, but now coming together we have found community and have created our own sanctuary. This is the contribution we are making through our art, building the spaces that fit us comfortably.

About the artists

The Sickly & Nauseous collective came about after four RMIT students Holly Goodridge, Elloise Arabol Alexander, Josephine Ayton and Grace Martyn created an open discussion about the difficulties of experiencing neurodiversity in a non-cis-male body.

The four are Naarm, Melbourne based contemporary multi-disciplinary artist producing documents that occur at the intersection of painting, sculptural objects and installation.

Instagram: @hollygoodridgeart, @smellycheese_a, @josephine.aart, @gross.martini.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.