Untitled IX. From the series chiromorphose, 2010

Nico Baixas / Gos-com-fuig  

Untitled IX, (nc-4-S3-0007) Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle fine art paper. Small size: Sheet size: 50 H cm x 50 W cm. Image size: 45 H cm x 45 W cm. Edition 1/20 + 1AP Large size: Sheet size: 100 H cm x 100 W cm. Image size: 90 H cm x 90 W cm. Edition of 5 + 1AP Unframed. Black & White photography. "Chiromorphose" 2010. Nico Baixas / Gos-com-fuig. (Photographies by Mara Sanchez-Renero). 

This work explores the sculptural capacities of the hands. Stripping them from their symbolism or the functions for which they are normally used, I explored them like someone examining a foreign body, searching for their limits and pushing them in different directions. To do this, I used opposing sculptural concepts like straight-curved, and simple-complex; searched for the interconnection between fingers, and the balance between distances, and tried to generate geometric shapes and textures. At times, I would find shapes that were like doors opening onto a myriad of new possibilities. Throughout the process, I discovered a world of fingers that transformed reality taking it to another level. It is an abstract development, I didn't try to make the forms resemble known things. Despite this, the results are very suggestive, sometimes they look like architectural constructions or industrial designs, shells, corals, branches, flowers, masks. This effect is produced because many of these real objects are made with the same proportions or mathematical patterns inherent in nature. This is a question that interested me a lot. The fact that the distance of the finger bones coincides with the Fibonacci numbers, related to the golden ratio, which the Greeks and Renaissance considered the ideal of beauty, gives these shapes a special balance and perhaps a divine dimension.

This artwork features an intriguing study of hands positioned against a monochromatic backdrop, highlighting their graceful dexterity and fluid lines. The hands form an almost symmetrical shape, creating a circular void in the center, drawing attention to the negative space. This use of emptiness offers a stark contrast to the meticulous detail of the hands, emphasized by the texture and play of light and shadow on the skin. The simplicity of the grayscale palette accentuates the elegance and complexity of the human form, inviting viewers to contemplate the balance between presence and absence. The angular composition and poised fingers convey both movement and stability, capturing a timeless snapshot of human expression through gesture. This piece uniquely celebrates the understated beauty of everyday anatomy, turning a common motif into an exploration of artistic depth and harmony.