Hand-Made
[ Exhibition )
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Inspired by Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists, artists in the Gallery’s Community Programme have reimagined their own self-portraits.
Now in its 23rd year, Pallant House Gallery’s Community Programme continues to thrive. This season, visitors are able to discover more about the people who are part of this pioneering initiative through Hand-Made, a collection of 120 photographic portraits. In recent years, the Community Programme has focused on creating exhibitions that display artworks created by its members, however this year we highlight its collaborative nature. The close-up photos of hands showcase our inclusive and creative community of artists.
Hand-Made takes inspiration from artworks displayed in Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists; in particular a photograph by Snowdon of sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi’s worn hands taken in 1988. As a collection of individual portraits, Hand-Made presents hands that are used for creating, caring, holding, protecting and living. Hands are both intimate and relatively anonymous and, when presented as a set of photographs, they symbolise the power of a shared experience. This collective artwork reflects how the Community Programme is unique in how it brings people together from different walks of life and experiences; the common thread being a shared interest in the arts.
120 artists were involved in the creation of Hand-Made. Captured by photographer Tom Langford, participants were given autonomy to decide how to place their hands and if they wanted to hold an object. For many it was a new experience, and certainly a role reversal to be the primary subject of a portrait. A number of them chose to include art materials and artwork in their portraits to identify their own practice and share their experience of being a member of the group.
