Immediate Response
- The first thing I notice about this piece is that there is a shape hovering above the human-like figure that is standing on the ground. The hovering shape looks like a thought bubble as seen in many cartoons and graphic novels. The thought bubble is quite far away from the figure almost as if it is trying to escape, or it is aimlessly drifting away. This piece makes me think of the statue The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. While the position of the figures are completely different, the message of the artwork is similar in my eyes. Thoughts are powerful. Additionally, the bright, white color of the sculpture is quite captivating.
Objective Description
- I see a figure that is seemingly made up of hundreds of differently sized white orbs (or spheres). The body resembled a person with their hands in their pockets or resting at their sides. The body stands with their feet slightly apart, standing straight up and down. There is also, what seems to be, a stationary thought bubble above the figure’s head. The thought bubble is just about twice the figure’s height in the air and drifting slightly to the right. Lastly, there is a white wall directly behind the figure and a gray, wood-like surface below. There is some contrast between the wall and the figure, so they don’t blend into one another. The figure is a brighter white color.
Technical Decisions
Composition:
- This artwork is mainly static, but the space between the thought bubble and the person below makes me believe that the thought bubble is drifting farther and farther away from the person as time goes on. It’s almost as if we hit the pause button and this is one moment in time and the thought bubble will start drifting away once more if we hit the play button. The person on the ground is completely static and it makes me think that whatever this person is thinking of has temporarily rooted them in place because it is such a powerful concept or idea. I believe that this piece is harmonic in a sense because it causes one to slow down to appreciate the thoughts that are racing through our minds.
The Work in the World
- The use of varying sizes of white orbs reminds me of snow and cotton balls. Both of which are comforting and pure. Additionally, the Styrofoam spheres make me think about the fragility of the human body. In this case, the thoughts drifting through our minds are not fragile, they come and go and that’s the cycle. Styrofoam balls are lightweight and cannot shatter easily. This represents the powerful state of the human mind/body to me. This artwork reminds me of the daily work of mathematicians and scientists. They ponder different ideas and concepts every day trying to come up with solutions. Sometimes those ideas fade and sometimes they stick around. Those that stick around add to the collection that is stored within us.
The Story it Tells
- The figure standing on the ground has a very powerful thought that has caused them to stop completely in their tracks. However, the thought bubble is rather far away from the figure on the ground, so this makes me think that the thought won’t stay for long and the figure has to treasure the time he has with this thought before it drifts away. Additionally, the figure and thought bubble are both made out of the same material. This makes me believe that the artist wanted to imply that the human form is made up solely of thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Those thoughts, ideas, and memories are stored within the human form and make us who we are. Lastly, this temporary little thought bubble represents the cycle through which thoughts, emotions, and dreams come and go.