Inside all of us, there is a little philosopher, as Kristin Stobbink says. We all wonder at a certain stage in our lives what we want to become later. Who am I, how do others see me, and why is that? Are these assumptions or are they based on something? Throughout the centuries, we humans have been concerned with feeling, thinking, and perceiving, and we (un)consciously enjoy philosophizing about it. This inner form of ‘being’ is also called a ‘soul.’ This soul plays a role in all forms of religion. A soul apparently has a form; this soul makes you who you are and might enable that after this life, only that part of you starts a new chapter. A soul full of emotion, thought, feeling, and opportunities, even beyond this life.
Kristin Stobbink wonders if I were to pluck this essence, my ‘soul,’ from my body today, what would this ‘soul’ look like? And would my soul change its form, color, or appearance after a significant event? Is my soul shaped by the things I do all day? Where I spend most of my time? And does it change visibly as I get older? Can I, for instance, count the rings in ‘my soul’ as one does with a tree? Can you read my happiness, sorrow, encounters in ‘my soul’?
For this art project, Stobbink has had stories written by AI about Elara, a woman who goes in search of her soul, and about Aura, an AI that wants to know if it has a soul. The story about Aura incorporates various historical elements that have shaped our human view of what a soul is over the years. The story of the AI Aura narrates a philosophical quest for the soul. Does AI have a soul? This question touches on fundamental issues about the nature of consciousness, identity, and morality, and remains a challenging and fascinating question for philosophers, scientists, and technologists.
For this work, Kristin Stobbink has designed a 3D model and printed it with PLA on a 3D printer. In the invisible bottom structure, there is a pattern built up of hexagons. The hexagon also carries references and symbolism; it is said to symbolize love, sincerity, truth, harmony, equality, perfection, integration, connection, and reliability. Additionally, Stobbink has created several color etchings according to the classical craft of etching. In Stobbink’s characteristic style, using aquatint, lithography chalk, line drawings, and several etched layers, the work gives a ‘watercolor’ impression. Stobbink builds these layers by etching the matrix, in this case, the zinc plate, multiple times in acid. She then prints the prints with a large palette of colored printing inks that she mixes before printing and then integrates on the etched zinc plate. The etchings are cut to size and placed in the printed 3D figure, then cast with epoxy. The work is made in a variable unnumbered edition and has a relief-like signature on the side of each object.
The soul can be seen as a deep and complex concept that attempts to explain the essence of human existence and consciousness, with interpretations varying greatly depending on religious, philosophical, and cultural contexts. Kristin Stobbink wonders for this project what a soul looks like and how to cast it in form.
Kristin Stobbink Soul project – “SOULS” 2024
3D-print, etsing, epoxy & LED.
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Soul project – “Shapes made by light” 2024
3D-print, ets, epoxy & LED verlichting.
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Kristin Stobbink Prenten 