VIVIAN VALENTIN
69
Hands Have the Power...
Hands have the power of the human touch. They are an important part of our body. Hands offer warmth, tenderness, love, playfulness, communication, and reassurance. I decided to photograph hands because I observed on TV many of our health care providers holding the hands of COVID patients. They helped with the isolation while patients were alone in the hospital. Health care providers offered warmth, companionship and would hold a patient’s hand as they passed away during this horrific world pandemic. We maintained the 6-foot social distance from other people and were not touching or embracing others for safety reasons. Schools, churches, community centers, senior centers and programs were closed, many employees worked virtually from home. We were washing our hands as per the CDC recommendation. Aside from wearing mandated masks, everywhere we went our temperature was taken, we were requested to clean our hands before entering buildings such as medical clinics, restaurants, stores, and we became accustomed to having hand sanitizers with us at all times.
Photographing hands demonstrates a critical part of our everyday lives. We touch, embrace, demonstrate tenderness, reassurance and anger, build with our hands, nourish ourselves as we eat, and most importantly, we communicate with our hands. We show love, dedication and community building, play games, as well as use our hands with musical instruments, and bring joy with a touch.
Many of the photographs I took were detail shots, still life, portraits and landscapes. I explored the art of photographing hands with a mother holding a baby, men playing games, and celebrations as we toasted to good health. My photographs offered the opportunity to share the physical warmth and community building as displayed with men and women’s hands interacting with others. We are now able to go to community spaces and hold a different perspective on life.
Thinking... how long will this be, this pandemic? When will our lives get back to normal? Bronx, NY.
Growing of flowers. To see it coming up from the ground brings joy. Bronx, NY.
Playing Pokeno outdoors in front of the Castle Hill Senior Center. It was fun having some sort of normalcy and socialization with other people--weather permitting. Bronx, NY 2021.
Shuffling cards for a game of Pokeno. Bronx, NY 2021.