Mixed Emotions
‘Mixed Emotions’ is a series of nine silkscreen prints that explore the intricate role of facial expressions in human connection and the layered emotions they convey. Each work features a simply drawn, cartoon-like head and neck of an imagined male or female character, stripped down to essential forms to amplify the subtlety of emotional expression. The characters appear both individually and in combined groupings, creating dialogues that invite reflection on how emotions are interpreted and navigated in interpersonal relationships.
The series is deeply influenced by my late-discovered autistic identity and the challenges and nuances of understanding and expressing emotions. It draws on concepts like Dr. Damien Milton’s ‘double empathy problem’, which highlights the mutual gaps in understanding that can arise between autistic and neurotypical individuals. Through these works, I explore themes such as the significance of eye contact in fostering trust, the vital role expressions play in interpersonal communication, and the confusion or misinterpretation that can occur when these cues are not fully understood.
The combined pieces, such as ‘Mixed Emotions No. 2’, delve further into the complexities of group interactions. For some autistic individuals, navigating communication within groups can be an overwhelming and disorienting experience - filled with conflicting signals, heightened emotions, and unseen barriers. These works reflect the emotional cacophony and vulnerability that can arise, offering viewers a window into an often-unseen struggle.
Rendered on textured cotton paper, the prints are deliberately tactile, grounding the vivid and playful cartoon-like forms in a medium that conveys both durability and fragility. The simplicity of the visual language, paired with the nuanced subject matter, captures the tension between the immediacy of outward expressions and the deeper, often concealed, emotional realities they signify.
‘Mixed Emotions’ is both a personal exploration and a broader commentary on human connection. It seeks to celebrate the diversity of emotional experiences while encouraging empathy and understanding between individuals from all walks of life.
READ MORE ABOUT THE WORKS IN THIS SERIES - SELECT AN IMAGE BELOW:
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![Pop art style painting with vibrant colors depicting a hand holding a spray can. Text bubble reads 'VAL SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER AND... BOOM!']()
Quizzically Sad
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![A cartoon illustration of a girl with short red hair, a blue hair clip, and a red and black striped shirt, smiling with a happy expression against a blue background.]()
Delightfully Surprised
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![Illustration of a young woman’s face with curly hair, expressive eyes, and a surprised or curious expression, wearing a light blue turtleneck shirt, against an orange background.]()
Quizzically Doubtful
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![Digital illustration of a cartoon elderly man with gray hair and beard, wearing a blue shirt with a pink collar, against a blue background.]()
Hopelessly Confused
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![A cartoon illustration of a smiling bald person with a gray beard, wearing a blue shirt, set against a red background.]()
Quietly Happy
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![Illustration of a woman's face with short gray hair, pink lipstick, and a pink top with a purple scalloped neckline, set against a yellow background.]()
Sceptically Superior
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![Cartoon drawing of a girl with short brown hair, black eyes, and pink lipstick, wearing a yellow and purple shirt, on a pink background.]()
Hesitantly Sad
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![A cartoon illustration of a smiling woman with dark skin and curly black hair, wearing yellow hoop earrings, a red beaded necklace, and a blue top, set against a yellow background.]()
Compassionately Happy
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![Illustration of a woman with dark hair, red lipstick, and wearing a red scarf against a blue background.]()
Knowingly Skeptical
