The Support Service struggled with finding ways to illustrate their work without getting stereotypically symbolic. They found the typical imagery surrounding abuse or mental illness as either being overly vague (as in photos of withered flowers) or overly literal (as in photos of someone crying, contributing to cementing the image of ‘the victim’).

I wanted to work with hands because they are a powerful tool of expression and, in drawn form at least, can belong to anyone. The gestures are meant to be somewhat ambiguous and could be read differently in different contexts. Abuse, violence and mental illness are not always visible on the surface, and the lines between love, hate, desire, fear, etc. are not always
sharp and clear.

​