Misunderstood
600mm (w) x 600mm (h) canvas.
Black box framed.
Acrylic, spray paint and ink on stretched primed canvas.
Signed and dated.
Ready to hang with d-rings and hanging wire on the back.
2026.
This is an original painting. Artwork comes with certificate of authenticity and Sarah Sculley promotional goods, professionally packed for shipping. If you live outside of Australia, please get in touch to discuss delivery options.
Synopsis
This series explores my experience of living inside an AuDHD mind, where thoughts, emotions, ideas and sensory experiences can feel as though they are constantly moving beneath the surface. I use the ocean as a metaphor for my mind itself: vast, unpredictable and beautiful, but at times so overwhelming that I feel like I am drowning in my own thoughts.
Across the three works, I place myself within these mental worlds, surrounded by the chaos of my own mind. The astronaut helmet represents the strange feeling of trying to breathe and function while completely immersed in an environment that can feel both foreign and intensely familiar. It reflects the feeling of being caught between two worlds, trying to navigate the noise while searching for moments of clarity.
But within all of that chaos are the things I love. Whales, koi fish and octopuses move through the mayhem, representing the passions, fascinations and moments of wonder that give me something to reach for. The whales are particularly personal to me. Whale watching is one of my favourite things to do, and seeing these incredible creatures move through the ocean gives me a sense of connection and calm. They become something I can reach towards when everything inside my head feels overwhelming.
I don't see my AuDHD solely as something I need to overcome. The same mind that can leave me overwhelmed can also make me intensely curious, imaginative, passionate and deeply connected to the things I love. Through this series, I am exploring both sides of that experience: the feeling of drowning in the noise of my own mind, and the moments of beauty, fascination and connection that help me keep breathing.
