Hand

During the Wereld van de Witte de With festival in 2008, Freerk Wieringa presented HAND. This imposing 4.5-meter-tall pneumatic sculpture made of raw metal depicted a mechanical hand that communicated with the audience through programmed movements. The installation was a direct response to that year’s festival theme: “Green.”

Wieringa based his work on an extensive study of hand gestures and their meanings across different cultures. The hand — a spontaneous and powerful means of communication in many societies — was here transformed into both a monument and an invitation to interact. For this occasion, the artist composed a series of choreographed, universally recognizable gestures that invited the audience to express their opinions about the artwork, the festival, and the theme “Green.”

Hand was installed in the public space of the Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam and offered a playful yet thought-provoking reflection on monuments, technology, and participation. Mothership acted as producer, working in collaboration with September in Rotterdam (Rotterdam Festivals).