Kai Syng Tan MagicCarpet. Photograph: Studio Maba
Exploring Mind Wandering and ADHD Through Art and Science in Kai Syng Tan’s #MagicCarpet Project
Dr. Kai Syng Tan’s #MagicCarpet project, titled We sat on a mat and had a chat and made maps!, is a multi-layered, practice-led research initiative that merges art, science, and discussions around mental health. The work centres around the concept of mind wandering and aims to challenge traditional views of ADHD (Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) exploring creative potential within what some see as disruptive or distracting tendencies. Tan’s #MagicCarpet was featured at the Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival, where she gave a talk and displayed a vibrant, intricately woven tapestry.
A Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue on ADHD and Mind Wandering
Kai Syng Tan’s MagicCarpet Tapestry. Photograph: Studio Maba
The #MagicCarpet artwork operates within the space between academic scholarship, scientific inquiry, and artistic expression, defying clear categorisation. Tan collaborated with Professor Phillip Anderson, a specialist in Molecular Psychiatry from King’s College London, creating an interdisciplinary dialogue bridging art and science. Through this collaboration, Tan was able to explore ADHD’s nuanced impact on the mind, drawing connections between the cognitive experiences associated with ADHD—like rapid, seemingly non-linear thinking—with creative exploration. The idea is to reassess societal perceptions of ADHD, opening a space for reflection on how these traits might be viewed less as disruptions and more as a unique, constructive pathway for thought.
The Tapestry: A Visually Dense Expression of Mind and Matter
The tapestry at the core of #MagicCarpet serves as both an artwork and a discussion tool, created digitally by Tan using an iPad and printed by Flanders Tapestries, the same workshop that produces work for renowned artist Grayson Perry. It’s a piece which visually reflects the dynamic nature of mind wandering, evoking a sensation of constant movement and interaction. The tapestry features an image of Ada Lovelace, the pioneering mathematician and early computer scientist, surrounded by waves of text that shift between legibility and abstract voids. These visual elements intertwine, and invite the viewer to immerse themselves in its details and textures, a reflection of the constant mental shifts associated with ADHD.
The tapestry’s purpose extends beyond aesthetics: it functions as a literal mat on which participants can sit, reflect, and discuss with Tan or other attendees their own experiences of mind wandering. This tactile engagement with the artwork encourages repeated interactions, aligning well with the project’s intention of creating a safe, inclusive space for open discussion.
Rethinking ADHD: Beyond Labels and Toward New Perspectives
A central tenet of Tan’s talk at Unlimited Festival was to break down some of the restrictive narratives surrounding ADHD and to dismantle negative perceptions associated with neurodivergent thought patterns. For Tan, the tapestry’s complex, layered design is symbolic of a mind that, rather than being confined to traditional linear thinking, can form connections across varied ideas and topics. This sense of fluidity is depicted in the artwork’s busy, interwoven details, mirroring the way ADHD traits like mind wandering can offer fresh, innovative ways of seeing and processing the world.
Tan’s approach will challenge audiences to engage with the concept of “productive antagonisms” and to consider that not every question requires a definitive answer. Instead, her goal is to foster a “space for critical thought” about mind wandering and allow for exploration without a fixed outcome, which she sees as a valuable exercise in learning to embrace cognitive diversity. By fostering this flexible perspective, Tan’s work encourages a collective unlearning of limiting stereotypes around ADHD and an openness to view neurodivergence as a source of insight and creativity.
Find out more about Kai Syng Tan’s work on her website or the MagicCarpet Weebly.
#MagicCarpet #Tapestry #ADHD #Dr.KaiSyng Tan #Tan #KaiSyngTan #MindWandering
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