Immediate Response
My first response to this sculpture is whether it is a life size human with a large iPad, or a very small figurine with a normal size iPad. Either way, this inclusion of art and technology is very interesting. Eaton seems to have taking what appears to be a Buddha like figure and matched it with a new age technology. It is very current, hip, and if this was a real iPad docking station, as I think it may be, this would be something I could see in houses across the world. The figure is guarding the iPad and keeping it safe in a way.
Objective Description
There is a sculpture of a very rotund woman sitting down, legs crossed. Her back is hunched and her head is peering down. Her hair is in a bun. She is looking at a real iPad. Her eyes seem to be gazing into the iPad as if she is reading something on it or perhaps looking at her reflection. Her large arms go down along the side of her big belly. Her hands are gripping the side of the iPad at the bottom, as if to secure it. Her drooping, large breasts are resting against the bottom front of the iPad. There is a cord running out of the bottom of her. Her whole body is white like ivory.
Technical Decisions
Designed Orientation toward the viewer:
This work was definitely made to engage the viewer. The viewer is invited to participate in the art by physically plugging their technology, their iPad, into the actual art. It is interesting that the figure of the woman by itself could be considered art to many viewers. The woman is well crafted and well designed and could stand alone on a table as a decoration. However, the art is not finished without the human interaction of placing the iPad into the hands of the woman. Only then can she be complete and have something to look at as she passes through her day.
The Work in the World
The woman is a replica of the curvy forms and symbols of ancient Venus figurines. Apparently she is a goddess that helps the fertility of the technology age. In this sense, she has helped to birth the iPad to creation and helped its many improvements. This is very current and relates to modern day. Technology is a huge part of human experiences in life. Understanding the relationship to the goddess and the technology she is holding, I now understand this art to a new level. Also, modern ports for iPads and technology in general are very boring. This work brings creativity and art into the once dull charging station.
The Story it Tells
After analyzing the work of art some more, it became clearer what Eaton was trying to portray. As the goddess of the fertility of the technology age, the woman has been very busy over the last few years making all this new technology. Here, she is resting from a job well done. She is admiring the fruit of her labor in a way, and that is why she is gazing so intently on the iPad she is holding. She is looking at what she made and how far technology has come in the last few decades. Others might just see this as a “cool” charging port, but I believe there is so much more to the story of the lady then what is noticed at first glance.