“Middle Way” by Bogdan Rata,  Cascais,  Portugal,  May 2017

This giant hand is the work of Romanian artist Bogdan Rata, forming part of the project “Monuments in movement”.  It stands 3.5 metres high and is made of polyester, polystyrene, synthetic resin, fibreglass and red paint.

His work focuses on the human body and our perception of it, often depicting deformed and hideous bodies, and playing with combinations of body parts, especially hands, feet and heads. This huge red hand was first displayed in 2014 in front of St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, as part of the Independents Liverpool Biennial 2014. I didn’t see it then, but I certainly couldn’t miss it as I strolled around Cascais in 2017.

Copyright Debbie Smyth, 17 November 2018

Posted as part of Wit’s End