These Hands was created to celebrate the lives and stories of residents at Masonic Care WA residential facilities through a simple focus: their hands.

The project was built around the idea that our hands can reveal so much about the lives we have lived. They carry the marks of work, family, creativity, service, care and the everyday routines built over many years. For residents at Middle Swan and Howard Solomon Residential Care, the project became an opportunity to reflect on and share some of those experiences in their own words.

Photography and interviews took place at Middle Swan and Howard Solomon in June 2026. Residents were invited to talk about their lives, including the work they had done, the people they had cared for, the places they had lived and the experiences that had shaped them. Their hands were photographed in black and white, and their stories were then developed into short reflections to accompany each portrait.

The project was launched in late August, with the final installations completed in early September. The photographs and stories were brought together in an exhibition that gave residents, families, staff and visitors an opportunity to learn more about the people behind each portrait. 

These Hands gave space to stories that can easily go unheard. A person’s life is much bigger than their age or their current circumstances, and hearing these memories offered a fuller picture of the skills, relationships, experiences and contributions each resident has carried with them.

We are grateful to every resident who took part and trusted us with their story, as well as the families and staff who supported the project from the early conversations through to photography, writing, design and installation.

Special Thanks 

We would especially like to thank the residents who generously shared their time, memories and stories as part of These Hands.

Explore the These Hands Galleries

Middle Swan Gallery
https://masoniccarewa.com.au/these-hands-ms/

Howard Solomon Gallery
https://masoniccarewa.com.au/these-hands-hs/