Giant Hands Installations

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Giant Hands Installations are site-specific works created between 2018-2022 in New York City and Beacon, New York.

I have always been obsessed with the hand, I always imagined all the hands hanging on the handles in New York City subway cars. The first art was red clay dust blown to the walls of caves to create hand prints. In New York City skyscrapers are still being built by hand. It is not an accident I photographed the Moon Hand with the tallest skyscrapers in the background. The latest rockets are indeed tall flying buildings, also built by hand.

Many installations were created in reclaimed abandoned spaces and during the Covid lockdowns. New York City was empty and most Central Park staff went remote, so I did a bunch of illegal art installations. Places that previously were packed with activity had no one around, especially lucky for me, security.

It is a series dedicated to working with the environment non-destructively, with minimal carbon footprint, the cost of a train ride, and human breath. The installations are designed with mobility in mind. They can travel on the subway in a bag and can be taken anywhere on my own power, by my two hands. They are light and easy to install and de-install within a day. I do not seek permits as they get put up in the morning and taken down in the evening.

Except the Moon Hand which was made in the studio in one go, most Hands were made with acrylic paint on bond paper over several years. The Hands had collected the dust and grime of the spaces they were installed in. They fell into ponds and blew on the wind into pieces and were frequently repaired and painted over.

Making of Giant Hands.

Giant Hands Installations Statement

Giant Hands Installations are site-specific works created between 2018-2022 in New York City and Beacon, New York.

I have always been obsessed with the hand, I always imagined all the hands hanging on the handles in New York City subway cars. The first art was red clay dust blown to the walls of caves to create hand prints. In New York City skyscrapers are still being built by hand. It is not an accident I photographed the Moon Hand with the tallest skyscrapers in the background. The latest rockets are indeed tall flying buildings, also built by hand.

Many installations were created in reclaimed abandoned spaces and during the Covid lockdowns. New York City was empty and most Central Park staff went remote, so I did a bunch of illegal art installations. Places that previously were packed with activity had no one around, especially lucky for me, security.

It is a series dedicated to working with the environment non-destructively, with minimal carbon footprint, the cost of a train ride, and human breath. The installations are designed with mobility in mind. They can travel on the subway in a bag and can be taken anywhere on my own power, by my two hands. They are light and easy to install and de-install within a day. I do not seek permits as they get put up in the morning and taken down in the evening.

Except the Moon Hand which was made in the studio in one go, most Hands were made with acrylic paint on bond paper over several years. The Hands had collected the dust and grime of the spaces they were installed in. They fell into ponds and blew on the wind into pieces and were frequently repaired and painted over.

Making of Giant Hands.