Julia Scher Great Hands for a Lifetime, 2020

Pink fiber glass, modeled on a folded-over rubber glove, Great Hands for a Lifetime is part of Julia Scher’s iconic "Security by Julia" series.

Departing from the idea of the state as potential aggressor, or a body against which one must protect oneself, here the threat is bacterial or viral. Treated such that it appears marble-like, the sculpture is a tongue-in-cheek monument to humanity’s struggle against various diseases, dirt and grime. The pink color and the everyday nature of the gloves imply the gendered labor of women who work cleaning houses or who are stay at home spouses. While the gloves are oversized, they are also somehow deflated and nonfunctional, folded over as if cast aside.

The work can be presented on a plinth, a shelf, or any flat surface.