4 in x 5 in for each hand

2023

Mixed media

Something that inspired me to create this piece was Princess Diana's handshake with an AIDS patient in 1987. At the time, HIV/AIDS was surrounded by misinformation, with people believing that it could be transmitted by touch. With such widespread stigma and discrimination against HIV, Princess Diana's ungloved handshake challenged the notion that HIV can be transmitted by touch. Touch is a monumental gesture because it makes someone feel seen, especially when they are ill. People don't want to touch them, in fear of contracting a disease, even if non-transmittable. As a result, they themselves feel like a disease. I felt this notion especially during the Covid pandemic. For me, touching someone is not simply 'a gesture'. It is akin to acknowledging someone.