Extra Credit

This is an untitled piece by Ronit Bigal. Bigal launched this piece in an exhibition that opened on May 27th 2012 at the Artists House in Tel Ariv. It depicts a pair of hands covered in caligraphy. Some of the caligraphy is from various bible or religious books, and others is unknown. This piece in particular stood out to me because it shows hands, something so familiar that most of us don't even look at them, but it adds something unique--the writing. I really like the idea that no one knows exactly what the caligraphy is saying because I think it makes it more meaningful. I connect it back to a quote I remember my grandma telling me shortly before she passed, "If everything you said appeared on your skin would you still say it?" The instant I saw this piece I was reminded of that. I was reminded of all of the bad words that I've said and then instantly regretted, all of the mean or hurtful comments I have said and only later realized how deeply they might have impacted someone else. I think that to me these hands are covered in every word that this person has ever said or thought and it really makes me think about everything I would or wouldn't say if it was to be forever inscribed on my body. Other pieces in this collection show various other portions of the body from different angles, however I prefer the hands because the words you speak become the actions you do and I truly believe that this artist placed the meanings of the words in the viewers hands as do great authors.