Patrick Turner-Lee

  Alchemy is an exhibition about the artistic connection between neurodiversity and deafness, as explored through the medium of painting.

Turner-Lee’s paintings reflect as a personal expression to show the unique challenges and perspectives of navigating a world as both neurodivergent and deaf. 

 The title Alchemy reflects, on one hand, the unique material used in his paintings, which is made by his own. As someone with ADHD, this process helps him establish a sensory connection during the act of creation. Moreover, the interaction between the painter and the paint gives the material a life of its own, while the varying textures in each mix reflect Turner-Lee's spontaneous artistic decisions. 

 Following a heart attack, Turner-Lee embarked on his artistic journey with self-taught portraiture. Someone once said to him, "Why not paint something about yourself?" This question made him reflect deeply: What can I paint about myself? His first attempt was a self-portrait, creating intuitive, unconscious works in charcoal, pen, and paint. For him, drawing transcends mere physical reproduction—it's a transformative process that captures his deep connection to the subject, converting it into artistic expression. These works have also become windows into his psychological state. 

 Looking at his canvas figures, Turner-Lee made an intriguing discovery—none of them had ears. The details reveal how we paint what we feel: he's aware of his head and long legs, but not his ears, likely due to his deafness. Another distinctive element in his work is the recurring motif of red hands, which emerged unconsciously from his practice of wearing red working gloves while painting. This detail unexpectedly mirrors the red-stained hands of Macbeth, symbolizing blood and guilt. Through this coincidence, Turner-Lee realized that he wasn't just learning to paint—he was painting to learn about himself. 

Sometimes we pause to reflect on what life means to us, looking back with tears yet continuing to move forward—even without knowing what lies ahead. Perhaps this is the essence of life: we can always begin anew with fresh passion. This is what I learned from Turner-Lee, who has drawn wisdom from his life's journey. Now, we are honored to share his spirit and courageous artistic expression with others who may find themselves at similar crossroads, waiting for the next chapter of their lives. 

 Written by Emma Yifan Wang London