Body of hands: Multimodal narratives in form,gesture and objects

Abstract

The project, ‘Body of Hands’, explores how human hands, when paired with mundane, everyday objects and captured in black and white, can convey emotional, narrative and cultural meaning. Presented as a photo essay back in 2015 for my master’s photography specialisation, this work steers away from convention by isolating hands and objects, without focusing on faces and backgrounds, to challenge how feelings and stories are communicated. Each photograph is intentionally ambiguous, carrying both universal cultural associations and personal, subjective interpretation. From a tightly clenched cigarette to a gently held origami swan, these associations function as powerful multimodal signs where gesture and materiality narrate a story. The practice highlights technical choices, DIY low-key lighting, a monochrome aesthetic, and tactile attention, while also reflecting on the meaning of material loss: the printed photo essay booklet, the sole surviving object after digital images were lost. Through critical reflection and photograph-led analysis, this work sheds light on the unique expressive capacity of hands and objects when paired together, representing their significance in multimodal and non-verbal storytelling.