Hand Sketches

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Valentine

From 'Conversation' series

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Ankita

From 'Conversation' series

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'Conversation' series

This series is a study of gestures taken from a set of interviews.

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Hand Held

Looking through history, people have labelled different hand positions and movements, through symbolism within cultures and specific moments in time. Furthermore, how people have progressively shifted their hand behaviours through the age of personal devices. Our hands have adapted physically to its new demands. Taking selfies and holding a portable device in your hand has become the new norm and what body language culture has spawned from this era.

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LeftLeft

A cast of a left hand which has been 3D modelled and then laser cut

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“What do you think about ghosts?”- 1

series is the study of people's hand movements when responding to the question “What do you think about ghosts?”.

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“What do you think about ghosts?”- 2

This series is the study of people's hand movements when responding to the question “What do you think about ghosts?”.-

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Throughout her practice, Ailsa’s work focuses on the subject of identity, which has been explored in several different mediums. Many of the works focused on the face; specifically how history, culture and similarities passed on through the generations help to define us as individuals.

This year Ailsa’s work consists of various studies looking at the gestures that we all use to accompany our dialogue, predominantly centering around hand movement. People often display nuances in their movements, emphasising how gestures are specific to that individual. It is Ailsa’s belief that these subtle differences in gestures can convey as much information and emotion as the spoken words they accompany.

Starting with detailed pencil drawings of hands, Ailsa progressed to several small studies. These included looking at contrasting performing arts and exploring the ways people use hand gestures to express themes and passions. Through a series of interviews, she scrutinised the way in which people’s bodies responded to her prompts and guidance. Experimenting with both digital machine learning and physical plotting devices, Ailsa’s work continues to explore the use of sculptural materials as a means of data visualisation.