The highly anticipated BBC documentary, ‘Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks’, dives into the scepticism of Turner’s neurodivergent traits, examining his 37,000 sketches, drawings and watercolours to build a psychological portrait of the renowned artist. Raised in Georgian London, Turner climbed the ranks of the Arts from the age of 14, now acknowledged by art historians to have revolutionised how the Industrial Revolution was perceived through art, conveying messages of ecology, amidst booming urban development. Turner, the man who painted Britain, remains a personality mystery.
Turner, the man who painted Britain, remains a personality mystery
Neurodiversity refers to the differences in brain function, such as those related to autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and natural variations of humans, rather than deficits or disorders. This concept is modern, there is no diagnosis of Turner, only speculation based upon retrospective analysis. Whether Turner’s exceptional attention to detail and hyper fixation on light and atmosphere reveal he had neurodivergent traits or not, this much anticipated BBC documentary serves to expand neurodivergent awareness. Presenting the production of art which diverges from traditional artistic engagement, this new documentary broadens what constitutes as ‘legitimate’ art and therefore, encourages inclusivity and diversity in the modern artistic sphere.
TV presenter Chris Packham, a campaigner for the National Autistic Society and being autistic himself, sees “affinities [in Turner’s work] in terms of my own autistic thinking and approach to various things.” Yet Packham indicates the ambiguity of Turner’s personality noting that “with all of the people we suspect of having had neurodivergent traits, from Alan Turing to Isaac Newton, it’s impossible to provide retrospective diagnoses, so we can only offer conjecture.” Instead of labelling Turner as neurodivergent, it is essential we understand how neurodivergent traits may have shaped his art and how this affects the Arts as a movement. We must move beyond tokenism to authentic inclusion of neurodiversity in the Arts to enrich the cultural landscape with diverse, innovative perspectives, promoting an empathetic and comprehensive society.
We must move beyond tokenism to authentic inclusion of neurodiversity in the Arts
Turner’s work is much more than a footnote in history – his artistic expression, informed by his personality, is consistently evolving dialogue surrounding the Arts as an inclusionary sphere. We are so quick to put a label on someone to make sense of idiosyncratic personalities, that we neglect celebrating and welcoming these traits that challenge retired traditional scopes.
The conversation of neurodiversity in the Arts is an important one, and here, not only is Turner a visionary artist who has been vital for shaping modern art, he is vital in celebrating the minds behind the genius.
Watch ‘Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks’ on BBC Two.