lorenzo quinn joins giant hands to 'build bridges' during venice art biennale

for the occasion of 2019’s venice art biennale, lorenzo quinn unveils his latest work entitled ‘building bridges’, which is opening to the public on may 10th. known for his previous installation in 2017, which saw a pair of hands prop up the famous italian city, this new, site-specific sculpture comprises of six pairs of hands joining across the entrance of the arsenale. with each pair representing one of six universally essential values – friendship, wisdom, help, faith, hope and love – the concept behind the project aims to symbolize people overcoming their differences to build a better world together.

images © halcyon art international

venice has been chosen as the ideal location for quinn’s largest work to date as it has long been a meeting point for international trade and a melting pot of diverse cultures. the installation, which spans 20 meters in width and 15 meters in height even resembles the famous bridges which characterize the city. the artist comments, ‘venice is a world heritage city and it is the city of bridges. it is the perfect location to spread a message of world unity and peace so that more of us around the world build bridges with others rather than walls and barriers.’

the first pair of hands symbolize the notion of friendship and show two palms gently touching, yet their firm connection forms a symmetrical image – expressing a state of trust and support. the value of wisdom is conveyed using one old hand and one young hand, evoking the idea of knowledge being passed down from one generation to the next. help is shown by two connecting hands, symbolizing both empathy and understanding in a state of physical, emotional and moral support that builds lasting relationships.

the concept of faith is shown as the grasp of a tiny hand clutching a parent’s fingers in blind faith is a reminder of the responsibility to nurture our younger generation to grow in confidence, self-worth and dependability. meanwhile, hope is shown as the initial joining of interlaced fingers representing optimism for the future. and finally, love is expressed by tightly interlocked fingers suggesting the intensity of passionate devotion; the physical manifestation of a state of being that is fundamental to us all.