The Thinker: Challenging Societal Discrimination through Art

A Provocative Reflection on Rodin's Masterpiece

"The Thinker" by Miriam Trilety is a powerful reinterpretation of Rodin's iconic bronze sculpture. It aims to challenge the traditional white, supreme, masculine vision of artistic perfection and intellectual grandiosity. The poster features the face of a woman of color, with a double chin and an unconventional nose. Her head is held by the hand of a white man, who also uses it as a flowerpot. This still life arrangement symbolizes how her existence seems to be arranged and rearranged by other people's ideas.

At first glance, the image appears pleasant and beautiful, but upon understanding the context, it becomes irritating and disturbing. Trilety's design serves as a reminder of the systemic discrimination faced by marginalized individuals in society.

The poster was created digitally using Procreate on an iPad Pro. Its original dimensions are 29.7 x 42cm, with a resolution of 300dpi in RGB. This digital production allows for versatile applicability in various print areas, making it suitable for outdoor use, indoor posters, magazine publications, or book covers.

Trilety's inspiration for "The Thinker" stemmed from a cinematic exploration of racism in film. The lack of representation of black women in the visual arts further fueled her motivation. By alluding to Rodin's sculpture and incorporating the motif of a severed head in the hand of a white man, Trilety aims to expose the brutality and self-evidentness of male-centered thinking in science and art.

Addressing the issue of racism as a privileged white woman presented a challenge for Trilety. She was mindful of avoiding a maternalistic or tasteless approach. However, she recognized the importance of questioning the asymmetry and raising awareness about it. Trilety's work highlights the centuries of invisibility that women, regardless of race, have faced in certain cultural and intellectual spaces.

"The Thinker" by Miriam Trilety has received recognition for its exceptional design. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2019 in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category. This prestigious award honors well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Trilety's design integrates industry best practices and exhibits competent technical characteristics, contributing to a better world.