Blood on my Hands

Wow, Kim. This is very powerful image...disturbing, too. It seems to be the hand that is reaching out harms more than helps...

It was taken inside a church, Linda - it's a wooden sculpture that caught my eye. Of course, I had to play a bit with it! :)

yikes. I like the red tones you have in the carving. The red frame doesnt do much for me - I think a plain black one might do better but thats me.

Yeah, I wasn't sure I liked the frame, either Knicki. I'll try a change and see if it works better.

 

Yep, I think the black frame works better - reposted!

Hi Kim. While I agree that this is a sensational image I feel that the coloration and title is incongruous to the actual background sculpture. The title and color effects imply actions of great misdeeds, while the sculpture appears to represent a loving father stretching out his hand in kindness for his searching children. Indeed, certainly the delicacy of the fingers connotes love and hope more than hate and futility, at least to my eyes. Regards.

Okay, let's see if I can explain the concept. It IS a religious carving in wood and I'm assuming it's meant to be Jesus reaching out to the masses. However, there is a lot of bloodshed in the bible and that is part of the idea - sometimes those we cause to bleed are the ones who help us in the end, i.e., "Blood on my hands" referring to mankind in general and blood being somewhat of a metaphor for sins, I guess. I don't pretend to be a religious scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but I found this carving very dramatic and it made me think of this idea.

I hadnt even thought about the whole sin issue. I was more in the mind frame of how much blood has been spilled over religious reasons/causes. I'll probably burn in hell for this but earlier today I was wondering (to myself) if we (civilization) would be better off if religion had never entered the picture in the first place.

Seems like often spilling of blood and religion go hand in hand, even in today's world, or maybe especially in today's world.

At first I didn't really understand the title you gave this photo. But having read your explanation of the concept, the whole thing does have a bit of a dramatic feel to it. It's a bit like a lot of hands reaching out for help and the one above only selecting one. Also a bit like so many people asking for and in need of help and us closing (trying to close) our eyes for that call in need...

 

Throughout the centuries religion has been misused in many ways, to enrich oneself, to gain power, to oppress other people, ... The fact that it seems worse today may only be because we are living in the present world so we experience it directly and not from a history book. And maybe also because we have more access to information of what is happening around us, in the whole world...

Ilse, you're right - we get a play-by-play of wars and any major events, like bombings or terrorist attacks in this modern technology age. I'm sure that the instant visuals contribute to the idea that things seem worse nowadays.

I'd like to hear what different people see in this one. We've

already gotten some conversation started.

I see it as "Hell" and the top hand representing God's hand, bottom hands representing sinners. No offense, just my sick mind, to me, red

represents fire and hell. Dramatic, anyway you see it, good work Kim.

That makes sense, too, Javed. Open for interpretation...

Remember that in Christian and Jewish traditions, shedding blood is necessary to cover sins. The sacrificial lamb ... the Sacrificial Lamb. Yes, I find this image disturbing, especially after reading the caption. But, interestingly enough, I would never have imagined that it was a religious image because the top hand looks more like a child's hand (in the proportions). Another thought ... is Christianity the only religion where God approaches man (in Christ coming to earth to live amongst us)? In the other religions, isn't it man's duty to approach god? Hmmm.....

Here's what I started with in case anyone is curious.

I like what you've done with it. Like I've said - you're a master with post-processing. :-) Do you agree that the top arm is a bit chubby to be that of an adult? Do you have any images with more of the carving for context?

Yes, I see your point about the chubby hand. Here's a full shot of the carving hanging on the wall. It's about 18" x 18".

Thanks, Kim! It's an interesting piece to begin with. I think that you've done what you set out to do ... gotten us thinking! :-)

It's a striking carving as it is, but of course I have to go beyond what's there and make it fit an idea that pops into my head.

as in the religion of Greed, the religion of Power, the religion of Political Oppression, ad naseum.

Do I hear any votes for the Religion of Love and Forgiveness? Or would we all be better if it "...had never entered the picture in the first place..."? Regards.

nah, love and forgiveness can stay in the picture but the my god is more right than your god therefore I must treat you horribly and/or kill you can leave.

Kim, I like the three dimensionional feel to the hands which are explained by the original carving. Your PS adds to that.

 

As to the 'blood on our hands' thing, and 'would we be better off without religion' debate - my feeling here is that faith and religion are part of being human and to remove such a deep part of our nature would remove part of our essential humanity. The ability to do good and the ability to do bad are opposite sides of the same coin and you can't have the possibilty of one without the possibility of the other. Real faith is about the choice between these two. Real faith and goodness has been debased countless times throughout history to justify evil. (Does that make an sense?). I think Walter's point (which I sympathise with) is that the carving seeks to depict real goodness while the blood PS treatment associates it with the opposite side of the coin. I wish that real faith could dissociate itself from the blood but the reality is it can't. (Matt 13: 24-30)

 

So good shot, Kim, and an interesting discussion!

I think the point of the "blood on my hands" concept I was trying to make is getting somewhat missed. If we assume the top hand is Jesus (or whomever your god is) and the lower hands are people who have sinned, the sins of the people have caused the blood, yet the top hand still reaches out to help them. It's interesting to hear different interpretations of this. To me, my version still implies hope and help, rather than dark and evil.

Yes, Kim - I agree, you've given a simple and beautiful description of what you're trying to communicate.

Very powerful photo, Kim, no matter what your particular "interpretation." Mine would go something like this:

 

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" Eph. 1:7

 

Best Regards