{"id":488,"date":"2024-04-10T13:26:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T13:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atomic-hair.net\/?p=488"},"modified":"2024-05-09T15:24:36","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T15:24:36","slug":"tucker-nichols-explores-the-language-of-empathy-in-flowers-for-things-i-dont-know-how-to-say-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/atomic-hair.net\/index.php\/2024\/04\/10\/tucker-nichols-explores-the-language-of-empathy-in-flowers-for-things-i-dont-know-how-to-say-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Tucker Nichols Explores the Language of Empathy in \u201cFlowers for Things I Don\u2019t Know How to Say\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever been in a moment when you wanted to share an offering of sympathy, support, solidarity, or utter joy with someone but couldn\u2019t find the right words? Unfortunately, Hallmark can\u2019t make a card for every situation humans find themselves in. Artist Tucker Nichols<\/a> helps us fill that gap with a unique and heartfelt approach to expressing what we don\u2019t know how to say.<\/p>\n

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Nichols\u2019 latest book, Flowers for Things I Don\u2019t Know How to Say<\/a><\/em>, is a poignant exploration of human connection and empathy in times of struggle. Drawing from personal experiences and a desire to offer solace to those facing hardship, Nichols embarked on a heartfelt journey culminating in a collection of flower paintings paired with words for the often small, sometimes overlooked moments that accompany hardship and grief. Things like the nurses who so graciously tell us what\u2019s happening as a loved one lay on a hospital bed (one of our favorites).<\/p>\n

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Tucker shared that \u201cputting work out into the world is never straightforward. To go from making something for myself to sharing it with the public (via the postal service, on Instagram, or in a book) can be tricky, but it\u2019s also deeply satisfying in its own way. At the end of the day, I make things for myself and then try to find how they might land for someone else. The images with captions work when they resonate with someone else\u2019s reality. I fundamentally believe that our sense of separateness is a myth, that we all have fears and hopes and frustrations and joys that overlap more than they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In this book, an underlying idea is that even when life reveals what feels like an isolating experience almost beyond words, we might find some comfort in knowing that others have been here before.<\/p>\n

Tucker Nichols<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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I make things for myself and then try to find how they might land for someone else. The images with captions work when they resonate with someone else\u2019s reality.<\/p>\n

Tucker Nichols<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The inspiration for the project stemmed from Nichols\u2019 own battle with illness and the realization that sometimes, despite our best intentions, words fail to convey the depth of our emotions. Reflecting on his journey to remission, Nichols found solace in the support of a close-knit group of loved ones, underscoring the importance of genuine connection during times of adversity.<\/p>\n

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