Long before The Little Mermaid was turned into a popular movie and given a happy ending, I grew up with the story book version that my grandmother would read to me. I loved that story so much, and would cry when the mermaid ultimately lost her human form and was transformed into an eternal wind spirit. I understood what that meant and it broke my tiny heart.
As an undiagnosed autistic child, I often felt 'othered' by the society I existed in. I too, sometimes lost my voice and became unable to speak, or express myself. I identified strongly with this classic tale.
Making Harper was, in some ways, quite cathartic for me. Sometimes, I still have difficulty finding the words. However, as an artist, I have found a way to communicate emotions, which I sometimes don't even understand myself.