Alex Widdowson – Drawing on Autism

This time, I’d like to discuss about Alex Widdowson’s recent animation about autism, about the tropes we jump to when discussing autism and how he’s chosen to discuss it.

Drawing on Autism deals with the conversation between the director and an autistic interviewee, the differences between their experiences of life and trying to find a common ground to understand one another, all whilst trying to represent it in animation. It’s particular interesting how it’s represented visually. Widdowson elaborates to The New Current about the importance about collaboration, and what it feels like being represented by another person (2021).

What’s interesting compared to some of the previously looked at documentaries is the testimony. This isn’t a conversation that sounds edited, which leads the visuals well. At the start, we’re set in a monotone design: yellow and black that almost sets up the conversation like an interrogation. It literally takes the phrase “being in the dark”, where neither really understands one another. The interviewee remains hidden, an enigma to Widdowson. But as the conversation begins to pick up, and the characters begin to discuss their thoughts on the matter of autism and representation, we’re treated to various interpretations of the character. It ranges from a grotesque, detailed character, to children’s drawings to geometric shapes: as if Widdowson is trying to find a physical form of the subject.

As the characters become more comfortable, we move outdoors, as if two old friends are chatting. The colours are soft, an afternoon sky almost sets nostalgia in view. And as the narrative shifts to discussing Widdowson’s design decisions about how well he’s representing autism, we get another change of scenery into a therapy-like session: a long chair with the interviewee acting like a therapist to Widdowson who’s unsure of himself. A particular note I’d like to make is the colour blue that is used for shading, which feels unsure It really helps to identify the conversational tone each character has.

Eventually, the conversation shifts to if the interviewee is happy with his representation. The initial room set in monotone becomes full of colour, bringing life to the objects such as books in the room, and the therapy roles are reversed. Lighter colours are used, the blue shading of the therapy room are gone. Tonally, it shines light (literally) onto the subject, as the characters have begun to reach a point of understanding. It’s subtle, but clever in representing mutual awareness of each other’s differing experiences. Widdowson mentions how this last cycle wasn’t initially planned, but included to end the film, making itself self aware and creating “a temporal paradox”.

Drawing on Autism deals with very sensitive and personal matters regarding autism. It’s very delicate, very honest, very self-aware of its own purpose. The continually evolving and adapting visual styles, the changing locations and environments serve to enhance and illustrate the direction of the conversation, of the narrative, and the relationship of the characters. Colours, shadows play a prominent role in said illustration of the narrative, taking advantage of the medium of animation without need to exaggerate beyond what is necessary.

The New Current: Alex Widdowson – Drawing on Autism (2021) https://www.thenewcurrent.co.uk/alex-widdowson