A Singaporean artist is sharing his experience navigating a career in the visual arts while living with aphantasia, a condition that prevents the voluntary formation of mental images. Despite being unable to visualize concepts in his “mind’s eye,” he has adapted his creative workflow to focus on tangible references and iterative physical sketches. His story illustrates that creativity is not strictly dependent on mental imagery, showing how unique cognitive profiles can lead to successful professional outcomes through alternative problem-solving and technical approaches.
- Aphantasia is a neurological condition where an individual cannot voluntarily visualize imagery, often described as having a “blind” mind’s eye.
- The artist discovered his condition later in life after realizing that other people possess the ability to see vivid mental pictures.
- To compensate for the lack of internal visualization, his process relies on extensive research, external reference photos, and physical mood boards.
- His creative method involves constant experimentation and a “trial and error” approach to sketching, which allows him to see his ideas in reality.
- The artist advocates for the idea that aphantasia is not a barrier to artistic success but rather a different way of processing information.
- The journey highlights the diversity of human cognition and challenges traditional assumptions about how art must be conceived and executed.
Based in Singapore, CNA (Channel News Asia) covers global developments with an Asian perspective, with correspondents based in major cities across Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing, as well as in New York, Washington D.C. and London.
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