Gallery Collection 31 - Different Shades of Order

‘Different Shades of Order’ reads like a visual map of how structure and variation can coexist. The grid of raised rectangles creates an immediate sense of order - rows and columns that feel methodical, almost like a system or a checklist. But look closer and the uniformity breaks down. Some sections are smooth, others are textured and stained with warm ochres and a rust bronze colour that bleeds beyond the lines. For many neurodivergent people, that’s a familiar experience: the need or desire for structure is real, but the way it’s lived out is rarely neat. Focus drifts, intensity shifts, and what looks uniform from a distance reveals itself as layered and non-linear up close.

There’s also something grounding about the tactile nature of this work. The raised lines and the way the pigment pools and catches in the recesses invite you to slow down and notice the small differences between each cell. That kind of detail-focused viewing aligns with how many neurodivergent minds engage with the world - finding patterns, textures, and meaning in places others might overlook. The rightmost column, where the bronze wash spills more freely, feels like a moment where control loosens and expression takes over. It doesn’t ruin the grid; it adds depth to it. The artwork suggests that neurodiversity isn’t about breaking the structure, but about showing what the structure looks like when it’s allowed to breathe.