She found herself in a small market in Helsinki, Finland. She recalls: “I noticed so many people walking behind their backs one after another.” “I started taking pictures.” After exploring the market for two hours, she had photographed over fifty people with their hands clasped. One person held a map, another a cigarette, and a third a pair dress shoes.As she traveled around the globe, she found the same motif in different countries and cultures. Each pair of hands seems to reflect the history of their owner. She says, “This was something I did mostly for myself.” She says, “I began it because I was passionate about it.” In August of 2021, the collection Collection Hands, which includes 30 photos, became a permanent part of her work.

She uploaded the images to OpenSea in just one day. She admits, “I did not plan it.” “I didn’t advertise it,” she admits. Dave Krugman, one of my best friends, bought the first photo in the collection. It was one of Monaris’s favorites. This is a self portrait that evokes Vivian Maier. It features both the artist’s reflection in the store window, as well as the happenings inside. On the other side of the photograph, the clasped fingers of a security officer form a heart beating in the middle of the photographer’s chest.

J.N. Silva, who also bought a pair from the New York City streets, supported the project. The entire collection was sold in less than an hour. The original pieces had been listed at 0.3 ETH. The floor price at the time of writing is 1 ETH. The highest sale was 4 ETH or $11,245.40. Isaac “Drift”, a prolific photographer and collector, owns the one made in Naples, Italy.