Invisible Touch: Creative and Historical Workshop

About

How do hands help when the eyes cannot see? What forms of knowledge emerge through touch when vision is limited or absent, such as working in cavity? Do hands communicate the truth or can they deceive us?

This workshop explores the concept of in/visible touch through historical encounters, hands-on engagement and creative reflection. Focusing on touch as a form of care, the session examines how hands operate as tools of sensitivity, generosity and attention, particularly in contexts where tactile knowledge takes precedence over visual information.

You will take part in a hands-on activity using objects from The Hunterian Museum at The Royal College of Surgeons of England's handling collection, allowing close engagement with historic objects to prompt discussion about how the hand apprehends spaces, textures and relationships. Alongside this practical activity, you will join a curator-led tour of The Hunterian Museum, exploring how surgeons work when vision is limited, such as laparoscopic and robotic surgeries.

The workshop also includes the opportunity to make part of a textile sculpture with artist Ruth Singer. Selecting fabrics that reflect the workshop theme and discussion, you will use hand stitches and stuffing to create three-dimensional pieces that will inform an artwork to be displayed in 2027 at The Hunterian Museum and The Festival of Quilts.

This workshop takes place at The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, and is funded the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

This workshop is free and open to those interested in surgery, sewing and other forms of handwork. All participants must be aged 18+.

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Schedule

· Welcome: The Victorian Hand (13.00–13.20)

· Reflective activity on our hands and what they do (13.20–13.40)

· Laparoscopic exercise (13.40–14.20)

· Hunterian Museum tour and discussion (14.20–15.00)

· Coffee/tea break (Hunterian café) (15.00–15.15)

· Hands-on textile sculpture activity (15.15–16.45)

· Reflections, photographing our hands, and next steps (16.45–17.00)

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Additional information

Teas and coffees will be provided for attendees.

The workshop will be audio recorded for research purposes.

The workshop space has step free access via an elevator. If you have any additional access requirements, please contact [email protected]

This workshop is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Victorian Hand: Emotions, Embodiment and Identity project based at The University of the Arts London and Lancaster University and has been approved by the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, College Research Committee.

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