Tag: hands

  • Entrust, Keswick, England

    Entrust, Keswick, Lake District, England, United Kingdom

    Bubbling brooks blooming with brown trout. Mountain pathways, heavy with primrose, enticing the curious towards vantage points high above mist-filled valleys. Ancient villages, swarming with plump-cheeked villagers, beckoning wandering souls with a swarthy assortment of relishes, chutneys, and hand-knitted goods at reasonable prices.

    The Lake District of Northwest England is one of the most spectacular settings on Earth, and provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend away with a loved one, sipping succulent coffee and creating lifelong memories.

    But who really cares about any of that – we’re here for the Big Things!

    Entrust, a giant set of hands carved out of wood, can be found a few kilometres south of Keswick. They were created by local lad John Merrill, and installed by the embankment of picturesque Derwentwater in 2002.

    “I made this sculpture to mark the centenary of Brandelhow Park,” John told a clearly-excited reporter, who really seemed to have her finger on the pulse. “We carved this about about a quarter of a mile down the lakeshore. It’s just such a surprise in this location. It’s a little bit surreal – a little bit Alice in Wonderland.”

    Well, John, I did feel a bit like Tweedlethumb whilst laying abreast your creation!

    “It’s exciting,” John continued, whilst gesticulating dramatically, “to see how something you’ve made carries on in an ongoing legacy.”

    Babe, that’s exactly how I feel about Land of the Bigs!

    John’s had the whole world in his hands

    Whilst many Bigs are designed to be venerated from a safe and respectable distance, John is more than slappy for Entrust to be a hands-on exhibit.

    “What I find interesting is that as soon as people see them, then what they’ve got to do is climb into them and sit inside them,” he explained in his ever-punchy baritone. “I’ve seen dogs sat in there! It becomes really special for that reason.”

    Well, if it’s good enough for a puppy, it’s good enough for the inimitable Bigs Bardot!

    Thumb-fortunately, Endure has been palmed off to an overgrown corner of the park and can be hard to find, but if you knuckle down I’m sure you’ll nail its location. If, however, you’re looking for a Big in downtown Keswick, the hand-some Kong can be found in Heads Road. He might even give you a high-five when you show up!

    Teehee, I’m not sure if I got every hand-related pun in there, but I made a good fist of it!

  • Monumento A La Paz, Guatemala City

    Monumento A La Paz, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Give peace a chance! Oi, thicko, I said give peace a chance, or I’ll knock ya bloomin’ teeth down ya throat!

    Tee-hee, how did you like my tough guy impersonation? I workshopped it for months with my acting coach Reuben, before boarding the Land of the Bigs private jet for my visit to the machismo-fuelled Central American hotpot of Guatemala. The region’s earned a bad reputation for gang crime and kidnappings but, thankfully, the only thing the local Chapins stole was my heart.

    Oh, and my wallet.

    Guatemala’s frenzied capital, with its crumbling churches, endless traffic and sweeping views out over bubbling volcanoes, is also home to a fistful of beautiful Big Things. Most notable are the Monumentos a la Paz, several sets of enormous hands scattered throughout the citadel.

    The original Monumento a la Paz was unveiled beside the National Palace of Culture on December 29, 1997, to much applause. Created by local artiste Luis Fernando Carlos León and cast from bronze, it took five months to build and cost 125,000 quetzales – a figure that must’ve caused much hand-wringing.

    Two silken appendages, raised towards Guatemala’s eternal azul skies, seem poised to release a dove as a symbol of peace. The dove, sadly, was never actually installed at the original location – although I’m sure there’s a former government official out there somewhere with a lovely bronze bird sitting in the middle of his living room.

    The base features 16 intertwined arms that symbolise the united people of Guatemala after years of civil war and bloodshed. Much like the counterfeit Nike shirts that are freely sold throughout Guatemala, reproductions of the Big Hands could soon be seen on street corners throughout this tropical paradise.

    Hands up if you love Big Things!

    Huge hands are popular across the glove – sorry, make that the globe! – with massive mittens to be found in Uruguay, England and the United States. None, however, are as Guatemazing as the Monumento a la Paz.

    I encountered this particular set of clappy chappies in a well-manicured garden in the notorious Zona 1. Whilst it’s not the original version, it is the most spectacular, with dozens of chubby-cheeked Chapins lining up to place white roses upon its carefully crafted base.

    The park the piece is perched within is, sadly, far from peaceful, with trucks and cars whizzing by. I found it quite difficult to pose for these photos with all the cat calls and offers of dates coming from the passing traffic.

    Honestly, hombres, grow up! Until América Central moves past being a society sautéed in toxic masculinity and patriarchal hegemony, she shall never reach her full potential.

    In saying that, Juan Pablo, you can pick me up for shucos and dancing at 8pm!