Natalie Cunningham, Pertubed (PEOPLE 2022)

“Pertubed" is a jack in the box posing as an amalgamation of a barrier and fear. She is showing us that her unsettling presence is not what is holding us back, but rather she is apart of the vicious cycle of atychiphobia. This is the fear of failure, and common among many of us who unknowingly went through the motions of a neurotypical life, navigating a neurotypical world and attempting to meet neurotypical expectations without at all being neurotypical. We were told “if only we tried harder” all too often and believe me, we were trying harder than words can say. As adults we expect failure and fear the judgement and shame that comes with it, deflecting our fears externally which creates barriers to our own dreams and goals.

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