Ztenzila’s artwork
AN autistic stencil artist has used a comic shop in Camden Town as a canvas to express an alternative angle on disabilities.
Frustration and anger from the prejudice Ztenzila experienced about his neurodiversity inspired him to create the artwork outside Mega City Comics in Inverness Street in order to dispel judgements around the subject of neurodiversity. It shows a superhero with the words: “Autism is a new type of super power, not a disability.”
Ztenzila, 33, expressed disappointment towards attitudes on mental health and cites nurturing environments as vital in the development of mental health.
He said: “It’s really well told especially in education because I discovered about dyslexia when I was 18, I discovered about autism when I was 28. I found out very slowly. But when I found out I was dyslexic, I found it very powerful because obviously [it happened] in an educational environment, I was in a happy place, in college.
“Most of all, I felt kind of rewarded. I don’t think of myself as retarded, dumb or stupid, pathetic, so I felt kind of free”.
The artwork outside Mega City Comics in Inverness Street
Ztenzila is currently working on a film with Vic who helps to run the comic book shop. Vic, 32, was amazed by Ztenzila’s artwork after meeting him through a mutual contact.
He said: “I was instantly taken by his body of work and I knew that I had to explore that side of him and so me and my partner in crime, Barry, have decided to display and show people what his art is about and put a spotlight on him because he’s a very, very, special human being”.
Vic said an increased focus on neurodiversity derives from people accessing help they need.
He cites neurodiversity as a benefit for creativity: “It’s important to have, to know that there are artists out there with specific conditions.”
Ztenzila
He described Ztenzila’s work as eclectic and expects to complete the film by the end of the year.
He said: “We would like to make a documentary that feels more like if you’re watching a movie where he’s the star. We want to make the documentary like half a fun movie, half a documentary to watch so it will take a while.”