Autistic Artistic: Vienna Drysdale Bischard

As a practicing artist with Autism, Vienna Drysdale Bischard’s research examines how Autism affects her art, as well as how her art making encapsulates Autism. Similarly, researching a group of artistic women and friends with Autism, Bischard reveals how these women not only choose to express Autism in their artmaking but how their condition also shapes their creative practice.

Here too, in a series of self-portraits, alongside her friends’ portraits and objects of personal significance, Bischard translates childhood memories of Autism and feelings of ‘difference’ as well as ways in which she was able to seek comfort and a gain a sense of connection.

Concerned with medical research and suggestions of curing Autism through genetic and behavioural research, Bischard’s work also seeks to oppose the notion of cures: rather to reorganise societal thinking and understanding of Autism that doesn’t require healing or any form of medical fix.

Vienna Drysdale Bischard is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fee-Offset Scholarship through Federation University.