Pedro Paiva and João Maria Gusmão

PEDRO PAIVA (Lisbon, 1977) & JOÂO MARIA GUSMÂO (Lisbon, 1979).
“Pinky’s Muscle.” Series: “The Hand Speaks,” 2015.
Patinated bronze. Copy 4/4. (Edition of 4 copies + 2 AP).
Accompanied by a certificate issued by both artists.
Signed by both artists.
Measurements: 66 x 62 x 17 cm.
In Pinky’s Muscle, Pedro Paiva and João Maria Gusmão transform an everyday gesture into an enigmatic object, laden with open meanings and philosophical resonances. The sculpture, cast in patinated bronze, features a hybrid form: an industrial-looking tubular structure from which emerges a stylized arm whose hand points upward with the index finger extended. This elementary, seemingly simple gesture becomes the conceptual core of the work, inviting the viewer to question what it points to, what it communicates, and, above all, what remains beyond our perceptual reach.
The piece is part of the series *Habla con la mano* (Speak with the Hand), a collection of works in which the artists explore body language, nonverbal communication, and the capacity of gestures to generate ambiguous narratives. The hand, traditionally associated with action, knowledge, and expression, appears here isolated from its anatomical and functional context. Transformed into an autonomous sign, it ceases to convey an unambiguous message, opening up a field of interpretations where irony, absurdity, and poetic speculation coexist.The sculpture reveals both artists’ ability to combine seemingly contradictory references. On the one hand, the tubular geometry and volumetric restraint evoke certain aspects of minimalism and industrial sculpture.
The collaboration between Pedro Paiva and João Maria Gusmão constitutes one of the most unique and renowned projects in contemporary Portuguese art. Begun in 2001, their artistic partnership stems from an intellectual affinity based on a shared interest in philosophy, literature, the history of science, and the mechanisms of perception. Together they have developed a language of their own that they define as “poetic philosophical fiction,” in which speculative thought, humor, the absurd, and visual experimentation converge. Through sculptures, installations, photographs, and films in 16- and 35-mm formats, both artists construct universes where the boundaries between reality and fiction become blurred, inviting the viewer to question the certainties of reason and to explore alternative dimensions of knowledge. Their long-standing collaboration has given rise to one of the most influential careers on the international art scene in recent decades, with a presence at leading institutions and biennials across Europe.