The recurrence of the hand in the body of work entitled Volatile Compounds, is for me a way to narrate the human implication in extractive practices. The symbolic nature of the representation of the hand alludes to and explores the realms of labour, discoveries, and equivocal acts of generosity. In Volatile Compounds (Giving or Taking) (2024) - which is a work made of kaolinite porcelain, a mineral substance mined from the earth - a hand holds a diamond in a gesture that can be both understood as a gift or as a demonstration of wealth. The replica of the crystal can also be perceived as a pendulum, a spiritual tool used to answer complex questions, or to direct its owner towards rich findings.
Image: Jules Lister