I think it was like 2 weeks ago that I was taking the Vaporetto boat back "home" in Venice. When in the distance I saw this interesting sculpture being lid up. I needed to do some serious Googling to figure out what it was. I knew that I had to go take some photos of it, if possible.
I learned that it was a piece of art called 'Building Bridges' by the Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn. And by checking out the artist, I discovered many more impressive pieces. The location was a bit confusing, it was in the middle of a dock, maybe military/naval. And I couldn't really tell if it was open for the public or not. Especially now when like every museum is closed because of Covid.
But today was going to be the day. I'd just take the gamble. I took the boat to the nearest stop and walked through a fence with a big Italian sign telling me I was trespassing. But I decided my Italian wasn't good enough to understand that sign. I normally don't do this kind of stuff, so I wasn't feeling that good when walking around there. But it was quiet and the few people that I saw walk past didn't come running towards me to kick me out. So eventually I thought it was just fine. Especially when I started seeing other people with cameras there too.
It is a rather new sculpture that was unveiled in 2019. And personally, I think it couldn't fit better into the current time than this!
Building Bridges is composed of six pairs of monumental hands 15 metres high and 20 metres wide – individually titled ‘Help’, ‘Love’, ‘Friendship’, ‘Faith’, ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Hope’.
I love the name and the link to Venice having so many bridges. But when I learned that the local people refer to it as instructions on how to wash your hands properly to not get Covid, I kinda have to admit that that makes a lot of sense too. Venetians are funny!
The joining of hands symbolises our commonality, what we share and our ability to unite with an emphasis on bridging differences in all aspects of life – geographically, spiritually, philosophically, culturally and emotionally. The hands suggest a need for contact beyond self-interest, striving for human collaboration and unity. Quinn uses them to communicate complex emotions through a lexicon of gestures and touch, reflecting an ethos of connection and exchange through the language of art.
Wisdom
A young and old hand depicts the cross-generational sharing of knowledge and understanding.
Hope
This represents optimism for the future.
Love
The holding hands so tightly show a passionate loving relationship.
Help
I found this one the strongest. The helping hands supporting the other person.
Faith
Not in a religious way, but the faith of the child in the parent.
Friendship
The symmetrical touching of hands is a representation of mutual trust and experience between friends.
My takeaway from this?
Right now, we are suddenly so divided, and this is what we lack! We should try to come together and overcome our differences, just like these hands are doing! Left or right... pro-mask or anti-mask...
boahhhhh I totally missed that you had moved a bit for some change...good one and cool to see how you are doing and how different Venice is all of a sudden
I can never sit still in one place I guess... :D Good to see you are still around!!
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