Nicole Farhi – ‘The Human Hand’, Bowman Sculpture, 6 Duke Street St James’s, London SW1, until 30th September 2016
Nicole Farhi
‘Philanthropist’
bronze, edition of 9,
height: 20cm
This is the second solo show at the gallery for this celebrated designer and sculptor. The hands depicted range from those of a baby to the artist’s mother’s hundred year’s old hands. Hands from musicians, writers and artists are there along with those of a baker, a glazier and a noted philanthropist.
Farhi says of the exhibition: “I was drawn to the idea of sculpting the hand because it represented such a huge challenge. From the beginning of mankind, the first marks left on the walls of caves were by the human hand. Because the hand is the instrument of creativity, it reveals different aspects of the subjects.
“There is something liberating in zooming in very close on a fragment of the body. Ignoring the whole and concentrating intimately on just one part of the body focuses not only the sculptor, but also the person who looks at the work.
“I feel that hands are somehow bigger than life. I am giving them the importance and power I feel they have.”
‘Philanthropist’ – Lord Rothschild
credit: Walter van Dyk
The sculptures are accompanied by photographs of the sitters taken by Walter Van Dyk.
Tim Forrest's E & A 