E-Mindcipate
Focusing on the experience of autistic women's challenges of work burn-out, our audience is guided by an AI Recovery Programme called 'E-Mindcipate'.
Audiences will experience some of the internal challenges of those with autism, understanding how societal expectations, unspoken social rules and pressures can contribute to mental and physical collapse.
This first project explores a dystopian future healthcare system that stems from the continuation to seek externally, relying heavily on technology to heal us - instead of connecting with each other and ourselves to recognise what truly needs to change.
'E-Mindcipate'
R&D Reflection
Find my project report for the funders SPIN: Labs here.
The SPIN:Labs-funded project Hidden Narratives: Rewriting The Autistic Female explores the often overlooked internal experiences of autistic women, aiming to challenge misconceptions and improve understanding of autism in both social and workplace environments. Through in-depth research and collaboration with autistic women, the project highlights the unique challenges faced by late-diagnosed individuals, such as misdiagnosis and burnout, due to societal expectations and gendered norms. The project culminates in the design of an immersive experience, E-Mindcipate, which uses interactive performance, binaural sound and Virtual Reality (VR) to showcase the emotional and cognitive struggles of autistic women, while encouraging empathy and self-awareness.
Since completing this R&D in April 2024, we re-evaluated the use of VR in immersive production, recognising the barriers that this tool can create. Since Hand in the Dark's focus is on facilitating understanding, it felt contradictory to move forward with this medium.
Knowing this, E-Mindcipate is still incubating, but please feel free to reach out if you would like to be a part of its creation!