“I’m so glad the world got to meet you” - Woody.
Woody is seven, and has high functioning autism. He said the above phrase on his Dad’s birthday and it’s one of the most recent quotes to be turned into a linocut print as part of their art collaboration - woodism.co.uk.
Their project together is a beautiful one, elevating the ‘kids say the funniest things’ idea to a whole new level. Woody’s phrases are refreshingly direct and his honesty is utterly charming. At the same time they cover a vast spectrum of emotion, often stemming from his overwhelming love for his family. The insight into his perspective on life is a poignant reminder that we are all individuals, and our differences should be celebrated not avoided.
I first met Woody in November last year at his house in London. His Mum and Dad (Charlotte & Sonny) were there, along with his little sister, Essie, who is two and properly brilliant. She prompted the creation of another recent print “I HATE how much I love you”, a gorgeous summary of the sibling bond.
As with all my shoots, we took our time and I let Woody lead. We went wherever he was comfortable and when he talked I listened. He didn’t like my camera much and openly proclaimed that this was “the most boring thing EVER” on several occasions, but there was also enough curiosity there to allow me to photograph him. He showed me his room and we talked a lot about Star Wars. I also got carved up by a lightsaber on several occasions, which I took as a huge compliment.
The second time I photographed Woody I let him take some pictures too. Later he asked me if he could borrow my camera “just for a couple of days”. I’m looking forward to what might happen next time we meet…
