Rhianna Romero
Working Hands
Prompt: Final Project : Body and Material Dialogues: A Video Exploration Task: Produce a series of three video segments that incorporate the human body in conjunction with available objects or materials, forming a concept of human sculpture.
This piece began as a reflection on the idea of “working hands,” an image rooted in personal experience and cultural identity. Growing up and working alongside my dad, I was often around Mexican men whose worn, labor-marked hands became a symbol of pride and strength. I internalized the idea that to possess “working hands” was to be accepted as part of that hardworking legacy. Without them, I felt disconnected, almost dishonorable to generations who had sacrificed so much. The assignment asked us to produce a series of three video segments incorporating the human body with available objects or materials, forming a concept of human sculpture. My project fits this by centering the narrative around my own hands, exploring their transformation across time and identity through the use of clay. My creative intention was to question and ultimately redefine what it means to embody cultural pride, moving from mimicry to genuine acceptance. Material choice played a central role in expressing this narrative. I used clay for its tactile, transformative nature. Allowing me to physically build, mask, and eventually wash away layers from my hands. In the video, clay is wet and chaotic in the beginning, representing a rushed attempt at change; dried and cracked in the middle, symbolizing the rigidity of the mask; and finally cleansed in the end, reflecting release and self-acceptance. My writing and narration were integral to shaping the project outcome. Writing in the first person gave the hands emotional depth, allowing viewers to follow their evolution visually and psychologically. My research involved reflecting on personal memories, cultural pressures, and how labor is romanticized in working- class Latino identity. Ultimately, this piece is about reconciling cultural expectation with personal truth, and reclaiming the power of my hands as tools of creation, not just proof of labor.