ESTHER

My solo piece is inspired by one of my grandmother's skirts, made by my aunts. The room where they would gather to sew, embroider, make bobbin lace, and even teach sewing to girls in the village was once a printing shop run by my family. I spent many unforgettable moments there, in the printing shop, learning from them. Of all of them, the youngest has been the only one who has come to know my son with ASD and understand him, sometimes better than I do, despite her lack of knowledge about autism and the generation gap.

However, that generational gap has always shown me how much older people can contribute to the youth... works of art, experiences from times gone by, and even a different perspective on the problems we face today. For me, my aunt has been an unconditional support when it comes to facing my son's daily life.

The motifs on the skirt are full of symbolism for me, and I personally interpret them as a loud cry for more inclusive cultural spaces. Enjoying culture freely is fundamental to our lives, and it should be fundamental to theirs as well.

Despite the barriers we encounter every day with our son with ASD, with the help of cultural projects like Empower Parents, there is room to work hand in hand with different cultural institutions to ensure that culture is accessible to them and that they can also enjoy it.