A Passion for Creativity

Connecting Through Touch

© 2020, Joan Desmond, Forbidden Touch

“Forbidden Touch” is from a recent, mixed media, collage series about the human touch. We respond to human physical touch emotionally, psychologically. Infants blossom under gentle, comforting touch or may be stunted without it. Touch can sooth, invite, inspire, and rouse. Touch can also hurt, deaden and repulse. Currently we are experiencing a time where human touch is being restrained and censured. Many people are wearing masks and gloves, creating barriers to touch. In the series I use the most fundamental vehicle for touch, the human hand.