March and April is a time when many people come together to celebrate autism and neurodiversity awareness, and to promote acceptance, equality and inclusion by giving neurodiversity a voice on the global stage.
Passionate about photography and autism and keen to be part of this celebration, this month I wanted to focus on a photography project which doesn’t just ‘say’ neurodiversity but ‘shouts’ it from the rooftops.
In my search for a story, I came across neurodivergent artist, Mahlia Amatina, and her ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ project which aims to illustrate how something as mundane as washing laundry can unite us. It soon became clear just how passionate an advocate of diversity and inclusion Mahlia is and I knew that this was the story I had been looking for.
Mahlia spent over a year collaborating with 80 people from around the world in order to put together a collection of 80 images of laundry. In addition to these images, Mahlia wanted to capture the personal stories behind each washing line. Each photographer was asked a number of questions about aspects of their lives from hopes, dreams and aspirations to their regrets, sorrows and woes. In the final exhibition each story then sat alongside its corresponding photo.
For Mahlia, the ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ project illustrates a strong sense of connectedness and similarities between humans throughout the world.
"It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, who you are, or what you do – we all have laundry to do! The simple task of laundry connects and unites us, all around the globe - irrespective of the day-to-day judgements, structures and classifications by which societies are ruled, governed – and ultimately divided by."
Here are a few of the stories from the project:
“Tom took a chance on life. He left his former life in London – a life that included a secure job, friends and money. He moved to New Zealand and now works as an outdoor adventure leader. Because Tom lives with six other housemates, there’s not always space to dry his clothes. He likes to hang his clothes on the balcony outside which overlooks Lake Wakatipu and the remarkable mountain range. He prefers this view to Clapham High Street. Tom is relaxed.”
“Ron crossed the Atlantic once again for a girl. He feels that he will never learn his lesson. Things didn’t go according to plan, but he fell in love with Ericeira in Portugal – and it quickly became one of Ron’s favourite places on Earth. Every morning, when Ron was lonely, he would go for a walk in the narrow streets of the ‘city centre’ of this small village. He would see rows and rows of washing lines, all full of clothes, drying under the warm spring sun along the Portuguese coast. Ron felt as he did while he was child and his mum would hang out clothes in the back garden. He doesn’t want to be alone. Ron is fearful.”
“Deimante is from Lithuania but now lives in Norway. She left a secure job as an ‘anti-money laundering compliance associate’ – a title that took her a while to learn to say – and sought adventure instead. Deimante enjoys the cold and left Lithuania for snow-capped mountains. She now works for an adventure company selling tickets for sightseeing tours and promoting tourist activities around the town of Olden. She is very well-suited for this role. Whenever Deimante visits her family home, her mother rummages through her luggage and always finds something that needs to be washed before Deimante has had the chance to do so herself. This is how her parents express their love and care, not through words, but through actions. Deimante is content.”
The original funding for the project came from Reading's Cultural & Educational Partnership for its ‘Year of Culture’ celebrations. Workshops with local cultural and community groups were held to inform the project, and these contributions then formed mini on-site exhibitions in launderettes around Reading. Although the exhibitions have now finished, Mahlia is currently exploring ways in which she can create a new hybrid (both online and in-person), modern-day version of #80WashingLines that is reflective of the times we live in.