The open hand - 2007

Le Corbusier’s position concerning aspects of politics is ambiguous, because he thinks that politics overemphasize technique, and that he himself, in a strange manner can stay free of this technique as well as politics and stay outside of the range. Besides for this, he also sees the new communications technology emerging, in which the television is used to manipulate the public as a medium for politics. Le Corbusier makes it clear in Mise au point that he as an architect can claim a position outside of politics, in which he can defend the individual. The individual as an identity, which is driven by ideals and a strong will to choose his or her own destiny. To him the open hand is a political gesture, without the picture itself being political. He does not want to put himself on the same line as politics, the two fighting powers, the USA and the USSR. Here, Le Corbusier brings forth equality and uses the word harmony. As he says: The creation is a specific case of human neutrality. It is a ‘place’ for the individual, which is accessible to everyone. The symbol of the open hand is not religious (believing versus not believing) and is not political (communism versus capitalism). It is the sheer abundance that is under the influence of the second machine age (computer, telecommunications, etc), that should be divided honestly.