Urethane resin, steel
96 x 144 x 8 in
243.8 x 365.8 x 20.3 cm
2004
Richard Humann • Right Before the After Image • Urethane resin, steel • 96 x 144 x 8 in • 2004
Right Before the After Image is a large-scale sculptural installation by Richard Humann, cast in urethane using the artist’s own hands to form the letters of American Sign Language. The individual hand gestures are arranged to spell out the phrase “right before the after image,” transforming language into a physical composition that communicates through the human form.
The work’s title refers to the fleeting moment before an image is captured, when perception precedes its recording. By translating the phrase into American Sign Language, Humann gives physical form to an idea concerned with the relationship between seeing, time, and representation. The hands become both the means of communication and the subject of the work, making an otherwise abstract concept visible.
As in his other sign language sculptures, the urethane hands are mounted several inches away from the wall using steel brackets, allowing the sculptural forms to project into the surrounding space. However, the substantially larger scale of this installation gives the sequence of gestures a more expansive physical presence, emphasizing the relationship between language, space, and the viewer.
Right Before the After Image invites viewers to consider the brief interval between experiencing a moment and preserving it as an image. Through the translation of language into sculptural form, Humann explores how the body communicates ideas that extend beyond words, capturing a concept about perception and time through the very gestures used to express it.
Richard Humann • Right Before the After Image • Urethane resin, steel • 96 x 144 x 8 in • 2004
Richard Humann • Right Before the After Image • Urethane resin, steel • 96 x 144 x 8 in • 2004
Richard Humann • Right Before the After Image • Urethane resin, steel • 96 x 144 x 8 in • 2004
Richard Humann • Right Before the After Image • Urethane resin, steel • 96 x 144 x 8 in • 2004
Photo credits: J.B. Grant / Richard Humann Studio