In Praise of Hands

by Naoko Matsubara (Artist), Penny Boxall

Never published before woodcuts and poems to celebrate the art of the human hand. With hands being very prevalent at this time of pandemic, washing of hands, no hand shaking, no hugging, this seemed a very apt moment to celebrate the majesty and versatility of this amazing feat of evolution at the end of our arms The book began to take shape during lockdown, with images and emails flying between Naoko in Oakville, Canada, Penny in Yorkshire and the Ashmolean in Oxford. The subject of Hands - the idea of touch and the absence of touch - has taken on a new relevance during this time of social distancing. And the works have taken on powerful new meanings: healing hands, hands finding ways to occupy hours not spent in an office, hands deliberating as we take stock of our changed world, or hands clapping, perhaps in support of those working to keep us safe. The last print in the series was added in May this year, when Naoko invited Penny to write a final poem, for which a brand-new woodcut would be created. This was at the terrible height of the pandemic; yet, wonderfully, out of the anxiety of lockdown and despite practical obstacles such as the impossibility of accessing suitable woodblocks, ‘The Present’ emerged - a creative exchange in words and colours whose imagery of connection between mother and child provides a moving coda to a series first inspired by a mother’s wonder at her baby. We are particularly delighted that this elegant book has been designed by Yoshiki Waterhouse, Naoko Matsubara’s son - whose baby hands were the original inspiration for the series.

Genres: Poetry

76 pages, Hardcover

Published December 20, 2020

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stars are for the art work - gorgeous prints. I liked 3 of the poems that accompanied the art. The rest weren't bad I just had a few favorites.