For my transformative self-portrait, I aimed to reveal aspects of myself that aren’t always visible to others. Recently, I discovered that ADHD plays a significant role in the challenges I face with anxiety and keeping on track. To manage the many responsibilities of student life and multiple jobs, I rely heavily on sticky notes and to-do lists to stay organized. However, ADHD often leads to spiraling thoughts—small tasks like laundry can trigger a chain reaction of other things I feel I should do first, sometimes resulting in what’s known as ADHD paralysis. In my self-portrait, I’ve used a black screen to symbolize the overwhelming moments when things shut down. Through this piece, I hope to raise awareness of the less visible symptoms of ADHD while sharing a part of my experience.
For my review, I will be doing Ashley Legassie’s ADHD self portrait. Before reading the description, I already knew that it had something to do with reminders and attempting or keeping yourself accountable. The reflection of herself in the mirror says something about how she feels about all these sticky notes and reminders, it feels unhappy or mundane; a little bit overwhelmed. As the video goes on, the sticky notes overwhelm the canvas and soon cover the entire board leaving nothing but a black abyss which maybe symbolizes what she stated in her description, ADHD paralysis.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the description, the goal of this is to shine light on symptoms of ADHD that aren’t visible to the human eye and only something one can feel. The way Ashley made the sticky notes appear one after another and then quickly cover the entire composition is a beautiful way to get this point across and provide awareness for those who struggle with ADHD. While some people in the blog did something fantasy-based, she did something that is actually real and currently struggling with. Providing an in depth detail of what goes on in someone’s head who has this and being able to execute it through a very simple and straightforward clip, is very well thought out.
As stated earlier, after watching the video I already assumed that it would be about organization and or accountability. I wouldn’t say I’m completely off but in the ballpark with my assumption. I wouldn’t say this is on the transformative side but more on the interpretational side due to the outcome of this clip. She’s showing us what’s going on in her head, nothing is being transformed. As a portrait, it works well because it’s about her and it shows almost a storyline of what goes on in her head. To make it transformative, maybe having the sticky notes outline her entire body or something along those lines.
There isn’t much motion in this piece, it's more about the effects appearing or 'slapping' on the screen. To introduce more motion, I would suggest incorporating the sticky notes directly onto her, as mentioned in the previous paragraph. Based on the description, this seems to happen at times, and it would add a sense of movement. Or, after the sticky notes overwhelm the screen, they could slide into a new scene, where she’s more clearly shown to be overwhelmed.
In 2023, the CDC estimated that 6% of US adults, or 15.5 million people, had a current ADHD diagnosis. The estimated lifetime prevalence of ADHD in US adults aged 18 to 44 is 8.1%. My sister has ADHD and so does my girlfriend so being able to shine light on an issue not many people consider severe is very heartwarming to see. I think the more people know about the severity of ADHD, we’ll be able to provide clarity to those who have it.
Overall, Ashley does a great job executing and providing awareness to those who have ADHD and to herself. Through the simplicity of the sticky notes and the way they accumulate, she captures the overwhelming nature of living with ADHD in a way that’s both relatable and visually striking. It’s clear that this piece isn’t just about showcasing a condition, it’s about sharing an inner struggle that many people can’t see but feel every day. By focusing on a personal, real-world issue instead of a fantasy or abstract concept, Ashley opens a conversation about mental health that feels authentic and genuine. Her ability to express such a complex experience through something as straightforward as sticky notes shows how art can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and fostering empathy. The piece invites viewers to think more deeply about ADHD and challenges them to understand it from a perspective that’s often overlooked.