Psychiatric patient 16 - autistic child 1
- Date:
- c.1983
- Reference:
- PP/RSI/B/1/2/6
- Part of:
- Rita Simon Collection
- Archives and manuscripts
Collection contents
About this work
Description
8 artworks and a file of writings identified by Rita Simon's pseudonym "Alan". The date is taken from the date written on some of the artworks. They are not in chronological order and some show "incorporation": taking parts of people and putting faces on to extremities. Detailed case notes about "Alan" are in PP/RSI/A/3/2 but are closed under the Data Protection Act until 01/01/2074.
Publication/Creation
c.1983
Physical description
8 artworks, 2 files
Biographical note
The autistic son of the parents whose joint painting is in this collection (Psychiatric patient 11, PP/RSI/B/1/2/1). The child was totally cut off and self-absorbed. He had stopped talking at the age of two, then his father maltreated him. He neve used the words "I" or "me" and displayed obsessional behaviour. Rita Simon had previously worked with the child for six months when he was 3, but these artworks come from a second period when the child was 8. His family was violent and that would make him shut himself off. The boy was also obsessed with faeces, and would pick up dogs' droppings. This is reflected in some of the paintings. Rita Simon worked with the boy every week and initially he had trouble settling and would become very frightened and hyperactive. He would also use the art materials in a destructive way and try to eat the modelling clay. After a few months he began to settle and respond by naming things. After a time Rita Simon moved away from the area and so he transferred to to another art therapist.
This information is taken from conversations between Rita Simon and Wellcome staff between 1995 and 1997.