One of Hannahs aims is to capture not only the courage and stoicism of the women who have suffered so much, but also the nobility, dignity, and extraordinary compassion that many of them manage to retain, despite their traumatic experiences. I very much hope that this beautiful book, Tears of Gold, will help enable the Yazidi, Rohingya, and Nigerian womens voices to be heard, as well as to highlight the issue of the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in general. All too often, their stories of suffering remain unseen and unheard but Hannah Thomas is doing tremendous work in bringing their stories out into the open. May her powerful paintings spread the word and, God willing, have a positive impact in relieving the suffering of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities around the world. HRH Prince Charles, prior to his accession as HM King Charles III Hannah Rose Thomas is a remarkable painter and story-teller. Her publication: Tears of Gold is not simply an exposé of her artistic skill, it is much more than that it is her deposition, her witness statement to the suffering of a fellow being. Containing the portraits of survivors of extreme violence (and sexual and gender-based violence in the case of many) the book centers on their individual stories and, by extension, the horrific atrocities experienced by their communities. There may well be tears after all, their pain is immense but those tears are often unaccompanied by other emotions. There is so much control and a natural humility, the effect is simply startling. It is not what the observer commonly expects and Hannah captures the authority within each survivor perfectly and beautifully. Prince Zeid bin Raad al-Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights As I sobbed my way from one grim life to the other, I felt increasingly certain that this was beautiful art doing beautiful things in a terrible world. Bravo, Hannah Rose Thomas. Waldemar Januszczak, The Sunday Times The goal behind the book is to inspire empathy and compassion for these women through the portraits within. Art, because of its contemplative nature, can help foster such values, which Thomas believes are easy to shake loose in modern society. Religion Unplugged Hannah's soft-spoken nature belies a bold and compassionate spirit and her mission to give voice to the voiceless through the healing properties of art. [ She] has organized art programs in hotspots around the globe, gently teaching and ministering to survivors of horrendous violence and loss. Erin Rodewald, The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation and Culture British artist Thomass stunning debut presents her paintings of two dozen women who have endured persecution and displacement across the globe. Thomas visited compounds and refugee camps to interview her subjects, and renders their stories with a brevity that belies their intensity.But Thomass portraits are the high point: she captures her subjects particularities, as well as the sometimes-haunted, sometimes-resolute gaze they share.Fashioned with uncommon care, this impresses. Publishers Weekly, starred review For Hannah Rose Thomas, art is a means to process trauma, and to give expression to feelings that words and language are too limited to convey: "There is an absence of cultural narratives that allow women to look upon their survival as heroic, courageous, and resilient. We can never underestimate the healing power of listening and bearing witness to anothers story, and I seek to do this through painting. It is a form of hospitality and makes space for their voices to be respected and valued. Church Times, UK An incredible book reflecting a decades worth of work by artist and human rights activist Hannah Rose Thomas. What a powerful collection. Woman Alive Magazine "So beautiful and moving." Sky News TV, UK Featuring moving and beautiful portraits of female survivors of conflict and sexual violence, Hannah Rose Thomas art imparts dignity, resistance and justice to these women. . . . By treating them as subjects in their own stories rather than as objects in the stories of others, they become testimony to our shared humanity. Baroness Lister, The House Magazine, UK As works of art, the portraits are extraordinarily skillful and beautiful, but they are so much more than that. They offer a glimpse into the soul of women who have experienced the most unspeakable suffering. Seen and Unseen Hannah Rose Thomas has painted these portraits with her whole heart and likens this painting to prayer; it is surely an act of love. As the women look out at us from their portraits and share their words on the page, this book brings us close to their experience, helping people everywhere understand what these women have endured and how they can help. Friends Journal
