In Praise of Hands

Vibrant woodcuts are paired with new poems, creating a special dialogue between image and text, each throwing light on the otherThis collaboration has found a new resonance during the current pandemic, with our heightened awareness of the power of touch. The artworks celebrate the ability of hands to make, do, and communicateThis creative collaboration between artist Naoko Matsubara and poet Penny Boxall celebrates in words and colours the beauty and variety of the human hand. The series of dynamic woodcuts at the heart of this book was initially inspired by the artist’s wonder at the busy hand movements of her baby son and grew into a wider celebration of hands in all their extraordinary variety – hands engaged in music, sport, prayer, or creative acts. The woodcuts convey a sense of joy and energy, whether exploring the symbolism of gestures, playing with form and colour, or expressing a mood or emotion. Penny Boxall’s new poems were specially written to accompany the woodcuts. In th