Ifeolu • 13 • Dublin
12-15 Category • 2026I painted this picture to show how nature feels to me as an autistic person, and how different worlds can exist at the same time within one space and one mind. For the competition theme “This Is Nature,” I wanted to express that nature is not only something we see, but something we deeply experience. At first, the painting appears bright, calm, and comforting. The green trees, colourful flowers, gentle animals, flowing water, and smiling sun represent the soothing side of nature that helps me feel safe and grounded. Nature can be predictable and regulating, offering peace through repetition, quiet sounds, and stillness. This is the part of nature where I feel calm, connected, and able to breathe. The small cub at the centre represents me. It is quiet and observant, taking everything in and noticing details others might miss. The cub symbolises vulnerability and strength, reflecting how being autistic means experiencing the world and nature more intensely. In contrast, the bottom left corner of the painting is black and white, crowded, and chaotic. This area represents sensory overload, where nature and the world can feel too loud, busy, or overwhelming. Sudden changes, movement, or noise can quickly turn calm into stress. These two worlds blend together because, for me, there is rarely a clear boundary between peace and overwhelm. This is why the painting is called Colliding Worlds. It reflects how nature mirrors my inner experience beautiful, emotional, detailed, and sometimes chaotic. Overall, the painting shows that nature holds all of these experiences without judgment. It is gentle and harsh, calming and overwhelming. This is nature , complex, sensory, and real just like me.
