Dark Holding (Carpus)

Carpus is a drawing of the bones of the human wrist, based on an X-ray of a family member. The drawing was made directly with a raw lump of Whitby jet, using the material as both mark-maker and subject. The work forms part of a broader investigation into Whitby jet as a drawing material, exploring its geological, historical and personal associations. The hand is both the subject and the means of drawing: an anatomical structure associated with touch, gesture and making. The X-ray shifts this familiar form into an unseen interior space, revealing the bones that support our everyday actions while creating a quiet portrait of bodily presence and vulnerability.