Collecting Hands

An extract from Dave Krugman's text in the book

"Through the eyes of photographer Monaris, worlds emerge from these carefully cropped frames. A small box wrapped in silver foil, bound with string. What secret does it hold? An unlit cigar, a beaded keychain with keys to some unknown door, a pinstriped bag holding whatever one’s mind can imagine. An upturned cane to support some unseen injury. A battered black umbrella—will the weather hold this day? A shined black leather shoe, faithful in its steps, its outlines creased with age.

Monaris is a master of these moments and is adept not only at capturing them but also at curating them. Another ancient instinct that calls deeply to us all is our drive to recognize and collect patterns. And what a collection this is. Each image here is a thread in a wider tapestry, parts to a whole, and with each repetition, the story becomes clearer—our hands hold our humanity."