Artist Domino Whisker says ADHD diagnosis has transformed her way of working.
Textile artist Domino Whisker, whose exhibition ‘Parenthesis’ will appear in Gormleys Dublin. Photo: Liadh Connolly
Renowned textile artist Domino Whisker has revealed how an ADHD diagnosis has fundamentally transformed her artistic process.
Whisker, based in Ringsend, Dublin, creates intricate works of embroidery, often exploring memory and grief, which can take anything from 20 to 60 hours to create.
The artist said her recent diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has not only transformed her methods as an artist but also how she processes the emotions she is expressing in her work.
“My diagnosis is new, and has helped me examine how I learn and hold information,” Whisker (36) said.
“When I went from a full-time carer to a full-time artist, in many ways a lot fell by the wayside, which is understandable, but this process has helped me to identify why, and how to help myself.
“In part, the diagnosis helps to dismantle the way you think about yourself, which in the context of a neurotypical world can create a lot of shame and make you feel as though there is something wrong with you, that you are not able to function like an adult.”
The catalyst for her craft was the experience of caring for her father, the artist Charlie Whisker, through his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and her subsequent grief following his loss.
Her love for embroidery began as a way to occupy herself during her role as a carer, and the art ties her to her grandmother, who also created hand-stitched artwork for display.
Among other life-changing benefits, Whisker’s diagnosis has found her able to process memories and ideas individually, where previously they would have crowded together, which has changed how she processes these difficult emotions.
It also has allowed her, for the first time, to structure and execute an artistic series from start to finish with intention and without major deviation, allowing her to pursue a cohesive through-line in this series.
Following recent successful exhibitions in LA and the world-renowned Chateau La Coste in France, Whisker is set to showcase “Parenthesis”, a body of work which explores memory and grief within this context. “Parenthesis” will run from this Thursday, March 13, to Saturday, April 5, in Gormleys Dublin.
The show consists of both hand-embroidered works and tapestries created using found linen from Northern Ireland.
Discussing her diagnosis, Whisker added: “Medication was one of the right options for me, and it has helped me to approach life in a fundamentally different way.
“For example, previously I would have finished a piece and immediately been hyper-focused on the next new piece, without the benefit of forethought.
“In contrast, in the case of ‘Parenthesis’, I was for the first time able to reflect in advance on what I hoped to express.
“There are also elements of the show which reflect this, the colour coding, for example, represents my new strength in separating thoughts and being able to focus on them and process them individually.
