SHORT HANDS

Artistic Intent

A hand printed all white textured work, for sighted people. In this work the subtle nuances of shadow allow sighted people to share the taxi shape as language as well as the subtle visual imagery created. Sculptural works which project shadows to become fully readable have been a large part of a Woolf’s art over the past twelve years In this artwork the largest taxi sign set amongst all the other signs for blind people is a commuter body sign. The person wriggles his or her bottom when the taxi approaches. It was used several years ago by commuters to hail a taxi going to Duduza, an apparently friendly place where there is a relaxed atmosphere. The design and production of the over fifty blind tactile shapes has led to the development of a second coded shorthand for sighted people which describes hand gestures. Also under the title SHORT HANDS, and seen at the bottom half of this artwork, it consists of imitative linear shapes and dots that form types of letters. It is descriptive of the components of a hand gesture such as that used in deaf sign language.

Hahnemühle paper.

H 56cm x W 60cm, 2015.

Limited edition 20.

THS. Short Hands - All White. Mamelodi to Lusake

SUSAN WOOLF

SHORT HANDS WHITE.

[Taxi Hand Signs][i]

When a gestural or spoken language, is coded as image or text, it becomes increasingly succinct and readable to a person who is blind. This all white relief artwork relies on the subtle nuances of shadow to show sighted people how 14 simple shapes combine for the taxi shape system to be read. All white represents light which in excess is also blinding.

The largest taxi gesture seen here is a taxi commuter body sign. The person wriggles his or her bottom when the taxi approaches. Broadly objectional, it appears to be used in humor by some commuters to hail a taxi going to Duduza, an apparently cool place to party.

A second coded text, which is playful and experimental rather than practical, forms the part of the bottom of the artwork. The symbols / codes, are written descriptions of gestures. The codes do not replace the visual image of the hand sign. They describe the components of a sign and include the direction the hand may be moving.

Sculptural works, which project shadows for the artwork to become fully readable,

have been a large part of a Woolf’s art over the past twelve years.

Hahnemühle paper.

H 56cm x W 60cm, 2015.

Limited edition 20.

[i] Lazer technique, individually hand printed on wet paper at Artists Proof Studio

SUSAN WOOLF. MATHABO

THS. Short Hands - All White. Mamelodi to Lusake

ARTISTIC INTENT