The idea of fingers and gestures communicating energy in visual art is not a new one; in terms of painting a particular example come to mind – that of Michelangelo’s fresco The Creation of Adam, where the anthropomorphised representation of God appears to be injecting energy via a pointed finger into Adam’s more relaxed hand.
I’ve gathered together photographs I’ve taken as well as one from my family archive that feature fingers and gesture; spontaneously emanating energy, giving instruction or indicating interiority.
Firstly, here are examples where I feel musicians are emanating energy and communication through their pointed fingers.
Below, a few more images from London’s Afro Cuban Music night over the years:
Next, a series featuring people with a strong sense of personal style caught in the moment of gesture.
A couple of George Skeggs aka Soho George
The following shots were taken outside Bar Italia in Frith Street, Soho:
Below, some images photographed at the London Colour Walk, a monthly gathering in Spitalfields Market:
To me, unconscious finger gestures can also suggest thoughtfulness and thinking.
Images featuring family:
Below, a photograph I inherited from my late father. He’s on the far left, looking like a young, thoughtful John Turturro. My dad had enlisted as a GI during the Korean War in the early 1950s.
Above, a photograph taken during a flight; my husband Stephen in reading mode giving off a monastic air. Below, a shot from the mid 90s featuring my younger son Dan.
Above, a scan of a film photo I took of my mum having her armpits waxed by her beautician, Susan. Circa late 80s. I like the way Susan’s index finger, covered in warm wax, is pointed skywards.
Next a photo from 2005 of my son Raf as a teenager. Is he on the verge of giving me the finger for invading his privacy yet again?
This brought to mind a poster I’d seen at the Women’s March in London in 2017, where the image of the usually genteel and elegant Audrey Hepburn has been utilised in a poster showing attitude and contempt for sexist assumptions:
On the theme of visual culture and symbols here are a few example of mannequins that caught my eye because of their fingers and gesture:
Fragmented and Surreal in New York
Finally, a couple of spontaneous portraits taken in Soho in the past year where the fingers are integral to the composition:
☝️👆👇👉
Brilliant 😎
Thanks so much Brian!