MAP mima Summer Commission brings together four digital and moving image artists, including Jem Gillard at Lake Macquarie

newy.com.au – A new Summer Commission exhibition at the Multi Arts Pavilion, mima will showcase work by Hunter-based neurodivergent artist Jem Gillard and three other digital artists when it opens on Friday 5 December 2025.

The 2025 Summer Commission has been curated to highlight a broader range of creative voices in digital and moving image art, with Gillard, Lilah Benetti, Louis Thorn and Megan Farquhar all commissioned to present new work in the gallery space. Curator David Rastas said the commission, which is typically awarded to a single artist, had been expanded this year to “broaden the platform and spotlight a wider range of creative voices”.

Gillard, who has autism and ADHD, said his neurodivergence was not a distraction from his art but the driving force behind it, informing a body of bold, contemporary digital works that aim to provoke thought and discussion. “I hope my works offer a new perspective for neurotypical people, and I hope those who are neurodivergent can find something relatable and familiar,” he said.

He said the project was deeply personal, reflecting his journey towards embracing his identity after years of feeling pressure to hide it. “Growing up, I spent a large part of my life trying to hide those parts of my identity because of how the world made me feel,” Gillard said. “Exploring neurodiversity in my art has become a very personal exercise in unmasking and embracing all parts of myself.”

Gillard said he hoped his contribution would help break down preconceptions about neurodiversity by sharing complex and varied internal worlds through digital imagery. “I hope that by sharing more perspectives it can be shown that our worlds are varied, beautiful, and often not what we’d expect from first glance,” he said. “As individuals, every neurodivergent perspective is going to be different. The more that are shared, the better.”

Rastas said each of the four selected artists would bring a distinct practice to the Summer Commission, collectively spanning animation, cinema and experimental video. “Each of the selected artists brings a unique perspective and practice to the space, and together they represent a dynamic mix of animation, cinema and experimental video,” he said.

The exhibition will present all four artists’ works on a continuous loop throughout the exhibition period, a format designed to make it easier for visitors to experience the full program regardless of when they arrive. “Whether visitors drop in briefly or stay to take in the full experience, they’ll have the opportunity to witness a spectrum of compelling new works that challenge and expand the boundaries of digital and moving image art,” Rastas said.

The MAP mima 2025 Summer Commission exhibition opens on Friday 5 December, with Gillard’s works screening alongside those of Benetti, Thorn and Farquhar on rotation. More information about the exhibition and visiting the Multi Arts Pavilion, mima is available at arts.lakemac.com.au.