Art is such an expressive tool that it can be a vehicle for artists to convey their deepest thoughts and feelings from their consciousness. Gee who is multi-talented artist, author and poet who uses drawing and writing to express her inner world. In 2010, she set up the art project “The Art of Inclusion” to raise autism awareness and acceptance. She has written several books such as “I, me and myself - My life with autism,” “Nowhereland” and many more.

You are multi-talented - “artist, author and poet”? Which talent defines you the best?G: I don´t think much about whether I am talented or not. Drawing and writing is something that is essential for me and my way of being. I simply have to do it. I have always found it easier to express myself with poems as they are deeper and more honest than the ordinary spoken word. They also have my structure and therefore give me a sense of security. If words cannot describe what I feel anymore than I begin to draw. In each one of my pictures I tell you the same story, my story. Each drawing is a self-portrait even if that is not what the viewer will see straight away. As with the poems my pictures have many levels and you will get to know me better the deeper you look. Some days I am a better poet than artist, some days it is the other way round.

Can you tell us more about your book of poems “Nowhereland”? What inspired you to write this book?G: “Nowhereland” is a present I made to myself so it means a lot to me. Many of the poems in this book were written during what I call my ashes days. These are times when I fall apart and are the closest to my self possible. The book also contains Bareface drawings which take over from the words when there were no more words left in me. “Nowhereland” can be called a book straight from my soul. I always write poems but I decided to publish the book to give people a chance to get to know who I really am. By the way my new book “I, me and myself – My life with autism” will be out any day now. This book also combines words and pictures to tell my story.

How did you get the idea to start “The Art of Inclusion” project? Who can benefit from this project?G: The Art of Inclusion started out as a single thought on a tram in the middle of Leipzig on a grey April day in 2010. World Autism Day had passed once more without anyone noticing. I wanted to change that and decided become an active promoter of autism acceptance. The project started out locally first but by now it has become a world wide project. VIP´s who took part are Sir Ben Kingsley, the German Chancellor and racing driver Michael Schumacher. By now the Art of Inclusion has become part of the curriculum in many German schools and I receive wonderful mails with new pictures drawn by people from all walks of life.
6 years ago it was all about autism but the project has evolved and now not only aims to raise awareness and acceptance for autism but for each and everyone of us because we are all different. That is the first thing we have in common. Therefore, anyone can benefit from the project: either by participating or on the receiving end by enjoying more acceptance from other people. Acceptance begins with each of us. Self-acceptance is the key to acceptance and inclusion. Only if we can accept ourselves will we be able to accept other people no matter how different to us they are. By offering people my half of my Bareface I am asking them to look into a mirror and encounter themselves before they encounter me on that piece of paper. The best Art of Inclusion pictures are those were people took down their I-masks and let their selves meet mine. You can see all these pictures on my website: If you want to take part in the project, please go to to download the Barface picture.

Which is your favorite piece of work and why? How do you usually pick subjects for your work?G: Again, I find it difficult to have favourites ☺ but I quite like “My life on A3” which is a “story picture” and was the result of stimming activity. I think that this picture tells my story very well and it was also one of the first ones I did in colour. I often use drawing as stimming. I can listen better if I am allowed to draw at the same time. I also like the picture which is on the cover of my German book about autism. It is the best self portrait that I have done so far. I seldom pick the subjects for my work. It is more the other way round, they pick me. I mostly draw subconsciously I do not have a plan of what to draw and often I am completely surprised as to what the result is. The picture also tells me when to leave it alone.

Who is your favorite artist and which of his/her painting do you like the most and why?G: I don´t really have a favourite artist instead I have phases where one artist becomes my favourite for a while. But an artist I do like a lot is Salvador Dali. I really appreciate his way of telling his story with his pictures. If I could buy one of his pictures it would be “Birth of divinity” but that could change next week. I also love his sculptures especially the Space Elephant which I first saw in London in 2003 and again in Hamburg some months ago. The photographs Dali had taken of himself or maybe took himself are also works of art in their own right. If time travel was possible, I would love to have dinner with Dali in Paris.

Who is your inspiration?G: Since I was a small child growing up in East Germany my inspiration has always been Nelson Mandela. He once said: “It always seems impossible until it´s done”. This single sentence has helped my overcome all the hurdles that my life with autism put in my way. For the last 12 years my son Elijah, who is also autistic, has been my inspiration too. What he and many autistic people need most is acceptance. That is why I am trying to build as many bridges between autistic and non-autistic people as possible. Elijah cannot (yet) speak for himself. He is the reason I do what I do.

What do you like to do when you are with your family?G:  I love having them all around me. My family is the wind under my wings. My daughters can be very funny and we spend a lot of time joking around and laughing. Elijah, who non-verbal, is the bravest person I know. He loves to hug and that´s what we do. My partner and I spend many hours talking about life and the adventure it is. He explains many the things that I do not understand and helps me to become the person I want to be. My family is my haven and my home is where my family is.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you like about that place?G: I do have a favourite place. ☺ My favourite place is London, especially the area around the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. I like getting lost in the streets of the East End and being near the Thames. It was always my childhood dream to go and live in London and after the Berlin Wall finally came down I did just that. I went to London where I spend the next 15 years. London in the early 90s had a special buzz and it made dreaming possible. I was involved in the music scene which had its own rules I was quite able to conform with. Also, as an autistic person coming to London was a relief as no one thought it odd that I didn´t know the social rules, didn´t understand or use phrases or proverbs and didn´t engage in small talk. It made life a lot easier fro me. Now I am back in Germany but London will always be in my heart. All three of my children were born there and I had my first art exhibitions in London. It was in London that I really took to pen and paper. London too inspires me. Even from the distance.

How can art play an important role for our special children?G: Children are born artists and it is important that they do not loose the ability to be able to tell their stories via art. Art is like an open door. With art anything is accessible and there are no boundaries. Art makes things possible which are not possible in real life yet. Art has the ability to connect people no matter who they are or where they come from. Art doesn’t judge. Art doesn´t know race, colour, age or disability. Art is art. Art needs no spoken words and no translators. Art is a language that everyone of us can speak and understand. Art sets our selves free and always provides the right distance or closeness between the creator and the beholder. A picture says more than a thousand words. If children don´t have words like my son or if they find it difficult to put what they feel and want to say in words, then art can be a wonderful alternative for them to tell their stories. Art can become that important valve which allows them to release all their inner conflict. At least this is how I feel about art and how I experience it. I cannot imagine a life without art. I would like to invite everyone reading this to become part of The Art of Inclusion. The half Bareface can be downloaded here: www.cloud-burst.tv and don´t forget to upload the result or email it to me via my website. I am looking forward to many new encounters on paper.

Any special message for our community?G: Yes, I do: Whatever you do, do it with your heart and believe in yourself. Don´t compare yourself with others…you are who you are. There is no right or wrong in what you do but there are always consequences. If you want change in this world, be that change. Don´t just think or talk about your ideas, do something with them. Bring them to life. Don´t be afraid to try new things. If it doesn´t work the first time, it might work the second, third or fourth time. Keep trying and keep dreaming. Don´t waste your time waiting for the big miracle instead see the small wonders that happen every day. Be yourself and be happy. It´s up to you to do that. My autism might define my way but it doesn´t decide on the destination.