The historic 10th edition of World Art Dubai (WAD) took place last weekend at the Dubai World Trade Centre, drawing thousands of art fans and creatives. The event, which was planned in association with Dubai Culture, drew guests from all walks of life and turned into a festival of artistic and cultural expression.

Amidst the canvases and conversations in the busy hallways of the art extravaganza, one display struck out for more reasons than just its artistic merits. It told a tale. Curated by Carlo Garrido, this exhibition of surrealistic works was more than Spectro Lucid Art; it was a celebration of activism, variety, and innovation.

Carlo Garrido, a psychologist and businessman who has lived in Dubai since 2005, never thought of himself as an art curator. But he took a bold step because of his intense love of the arts and his experience as a person on the autistic spectrum. Carlo says, "I've been interested in art since I was young." "I started collecting art when I moved to Dubai, and it eventually developed into a personal collection."

Carlo, who is passionate in surrealism, recently organised an exhibition with steam punk and feminism as its two main themes—both of which fall under the broad category of surrealism. Carlo was drawn to the science fiction subgenre known as steam punk because of its oddball fusion of the past and present. He goes on, "Steam punk pulls the future into the past. Take the idea of flying cars from the 18th or 19th century, for instance. It's a misplacement of time. Many Hollywood films use this concept as a basis.

According to Carlo, the exhibition's title, Spectro Lucid, has profound meaning. "'Spectro' because I, along with half of the artists, am autistic," he says. "And 'clear' due to the inventiveness. Like many of the other artists, I also have vivid dreams.

Carlo has the extraordinary capacity to precisely regulate his dreams. He can prolong his dreams when they are nice, and he can even cut them short if they are nightmares he doesn't want to think about. "I dream quite vividly, and I'm conscious of it all the time."

This accomplishment is the result of Carlo's unorthodox path as a curator, which brought together a community of Filipino artists, four of whom share his autistic spectrum diagnosis, and gave them a stage on which to showcase their distinctive skills. "I wanted to give everybody, especially those on the spectrum, a chance to show off their abilities. Despite the opinions of most of my friends and family, I am autistic myself. They consider me to be "normal."

"But I think it's a superpower, not a disability," Carlo explains, referring to his official diagnosis from the previous year. Thus, raising awareness of autism has been a particular goal of mine.

Still, the diagnosis was only formal validation of what he had known for a long time. He says, "I've always known I'm autistic." "I grew up with certain behaviours. For instance, I have a high sensitivity to colour. I think that has greatly influenced my creative vision since I pay attention to details. I engage in a few repeating habits. I'm stroking my knees repeatedly even as we talk. For me, it's more of a reassurance that I'm secure and present.

When Carlo feels that his illness is getting the better of him, he uses these techniques to comfort himself. "I am aware that my sensitivity to these things is a result of my autism. But I'm happy with it. I take great pride in my accomplishments and in the fact that I have used my autism spectrum condition to my advantage.

Carlo wants to empower more people to take charge of their life and not let their illness dictate who they are through his art project. "My friends who have children on the autism spectrum are really concerned. "I wasn't talking until I was seven years old," I stated. The world didn't end because of it. You cannot allow your illness limit your potential," he states.

Each beautifully detailed and imaginative piece of art in the show pays homage to the extraordinary skill and diversity found within the autistic community, as each one reflects the individual experiences of its creator. Carlo says, "Autistic people tend to hyper-focus on things we like." Our intricate artworks captivate visitors, who take their time studying them. There are many more stunning pieces of art in World Art Dubai. While some artworks are large, ours are detailed and large.

Carlo adds that working with other artists who are on the spectrum was a rewarding experience. He remembers that "everything went smoothly." "To share our work and create awareness, that was our shared goal in doing this. It was more important to spread our art than it was to sell. The fact that we also sold was a big plus.

"But it was more about appreciating art and putting our feelings and imaginations on canvas," Carlo adds, adding that he hopes to dispel misconceptions and promote understanding with this project.

Raising awareness is the main obstacle. People with autism are perceived as being incapable of talking, communicating effectively, or performing many other tasks. This is not at all accurate, he continues.

"People with autism thrive in all fields, not just the arts, and we are equally as brilliant as those without it. Whether in business, sports, the arts, or music, a large number of the most prosperous individuals are autistic. Carlo explains, "We're here to demonstrate our performance skills to the world."

His transition from collector to curator is a potent reminder of the transformative effect of art on people's lives. "We'll have more chances when people have a deeper understanding of us. We'll be treated fairly and without bias.

With an eye towards the future, the curator of art is steadfast in his advocacy work, working to increase public understanding of autism as well as the enjoyment of art. He says, "I'll continue doing this for as long as I can." "Because I am aware of how enjoyable, uplifting, and inspiring it can be."