The hand is at the centre of artisanal and artistic practices. It reveals its intelligence through the movement that shapes material, passes on expertise, and transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. This dissertation offers a living reflection, nourished by personal experiences, trips, observations and encounters. It is elaborated around discussions with artisans and artists with varied practices, from sculpture and book-binding to ceramics and engraving. These free, personal accounts reveal practical intelligence, which is often invisible but essential to creation. More specifically, they provide a realistic understanding of the challenges of manual work in a context marked by the industrialisation and dematerialisation of design processes.
