„Talking Hands IV“ - Kurt Stimmeder
Oil on canvas / 30x40 cm / Year 2021
The present artwork, titled "Talking Hands IV" is rectangular and features a size of 30x40cm. The oil on
canvas work shows two hands and parts of arms enclosing a denture with their fingers.
The denture is
located in the center of the picture, is slightly open and gives the appearance of a talking mouth.
The arms emerge from the right and left edges of the image and are tattooed with greenish-blue colors.
On the little finger of the right hand, the words "I Love you" can be seen, the rest of the tattoo makes no
discernible statement.
Stimmeder deals with the subject of communication with the image content and plays with its aesthetics
on various levels.
Based on this, the image construct has its origin in the proverb "speak with hands and feet"- a common
phrase that expresses the extent to which verbal language is limited and this is subsequently expanded
unconsciously by the body, facial expressions and gestures.
Conversely, one could also infer from the saying that speaking is not absolutely necessary in order to be
able to communicate.
Because, as linguist and therapist Paul Watzlawik said, "You can't, not speak."
The writing "I love you" on the little finger of the hand shown on the left, is a reference to the inevitable
primal need to communicate, because if one did not communicate, this would have enormous emotional
effects on people.
Language and its aesthetics is subject to permanent change and is illustrated here through the tattoos.
Tattoos as such are also dynamically subject to the change of time and are seen depending on the
cultural reference between taboo and individualization.
In addition, tattoos serve as a symbolic language that extends the verbal language, as they are also
inseparable from the physical language.
