OBBE VAN DER WEIDE (1996)

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Technology is no longer a set of tools or techniques; it has become a dominant mode of human understanding. It shapes our actions and how we perceive the world and ourselves.

In Obbe's practice, he attempts to give form to this metaphysical presence; not as a literal machine, but as an abstract, symbolic entity. He envisions technology as an invisible yet all-encompassing force: structural, systemic, and psychological. Through sculpture, he explores how this force surrounds, supports, and simultaneously confines organic life. He is producing three sculptures that together represent this entity.

Obbe's work begins with expressive sketches, rapid marks in charcoal and pencil. These initial, tactile impressions are then translated into the digital realm through 3D modeling. In this virtual space, Obbe merges enlarged visual references into a hybrid body: a new sculptural entity.

The next phase is materialization. The form is 3D printed in synthetic resin, after which the surface is sanded, galvanised or varnished . Through this process, Obbe preserves the raw, spontaneous energy of the original sketch within a polished and refined final embodiment.