Rethinking the Thinker
2018
Polylactic Acid 3D Prints
Rethinking the Thinker is a 3D printed interpretation of Auguste Rodin’s sculpture The Thinker (1880-1904). The original piece was used to represent the philosopher and exists in many iterations around the world. This contemporary appropriation consists of three versions of Rodin’s statue. The first is the most exact, which was then photographed and reprinted as an abstracted version. This process was repeated twice to create three figures of varying clarity.
Rethinking the Thinker turns the internal consideration of the philosopher to a question of the piece itself. The ambiguous ordering and placement of the pieces obscure the transition and whether it is read from the crisp replica or the last amorphous structure; coming into or out of clarity. Installed at a low level, the piece also requires a mirroring of the statue’s posture and a more bodily consideration of the works.
In both art and manufacturing, 3D printing is yet to develop a consistent visual style. Rethinking the Thinker begins to give form to this mechanism by accentuating its undulating layers and shadowed structures. The additive formation of the work predicts a contemporary way of creating and offers a consideration of both subject matter and the new visual aesthetic and textural nature of 3D printing.
Exhibited at Immerse Festival with RE artist book.
Rethinking the Thinker was exhibited at Knox Immerse Festival in Ferntree Gully Library along with Jess Coldrey’s artist book RE discussing the sculpture’s production and context.