Claire Lincoln

Claire Lincoln
Darien, CT

ARTIST STATEMENT

WIRED reflects my experience with ADHD and through this work, I hope to shed light on the complicated nature of the condition. ADHD is more than a tendency to be distracted or make “dumb” mistakes—it’s not that simple. Everyone is not “a little ADHD.” Our brains are wired differently.

An ADHD brain is not a defective one. Despite its association with learning disabilities, most people with ADHD have significantly higher-than-average IQs .¹

People with ADHD might know they’re bright and clever, but they can’t be sure whether their abilities will show up when they need them. Medication can help but it isn’t a cure; you take things literally and forget to smile, sometimes so focused on something you become consumed by it.

ADHD is frustrating, contradictory, and misunderstood. I know I’m not careless or ditsy or lazy; I taught myself animation, a notoriously difficult and tedious art form. But learning animation wasn’t the hard part. The challenge was taking my understanding of ADHD and grounding it not only in an unfamiliar medium, but in a way that resonates with others.

I had never animated before taking on WIRED. This project is successful because I’m ADHD, not in spite of it.

¹ To learn more, visit: www.additudemag.com Cited from “Secrets of Your ADHD Brain” by William Dodson, MD, and reviewed by ADHD Medical Review Panel. ADDitude, 18 Feb. 2020. www.additudemag.com/secrets-of-the-adhdbrain.