Saturday, November 23, 2013

Hand Talk

Humans have been using their hands to make marks on surfaces since prehistoric times. So when I spotted this handprint of a monk on the ceiling of a taxi alongside other magical yan drawings, it reminded me of Paleolithic cave art. It also made me think about all of the art through history that includes hand gestures as a way to communicate to viewers. In Buddhist art, the Buddha is represented with various mudras that symbolize his actions, including teaching and blessing. According to the cab driver, this particular hand gesture stamped on the ceiling is supposed to activate dormant energy. Considering that taxi drivers spend long hours sitting in the front seat, I hope this handprint keeps this cabby alert and awake.