zines & art books

GECKO

- Christopher Robin -

zine . riso . dimensions . xx pages . 2023

One evening at a single location in Sweden, eighty-five indoor climbing enthusiasts could be found clinging to walls, working out problems. Once they completed their routes and had their feet back on the ground, Christopher Robin invited the men and women who were competing that night to have their hands photographed. Left and right. Front and back.

40 kr

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Gecko toe-pads have microscopic hairs that use molecular attractions to help them stick to surfaces—incredible specialized adaptations that allow them to climb sheer faces. Perhaps there’s something special about these human hands that make them ideal for climbing. It’s possible to see visible variations in this sample population, but does that mean peculiar and advantageous hand morphology led the climber to excel at the sport? Or that the repeated use and training noticeably changed the shape of hand muscles? Maybe the environment formed the features of their hands—like time molds a boulder, creating the perfect contours for fingers to hold.