Heavy hangs the coat

ARTIST STATEMENT

These three pieces of digital art were inspired by the idea of professional identity formation and the symbolism of the white coat. All three depict sculptures made of marble—a hefty material meant to evoke the new solemnity and responsibility of putting on the coat and entering the medical profession. “Heavy Work” shows the white coat in the process of being built out of raw marble (Figure 1). “Heavy Sleeves” shows a completed white coat sculpture on a plinth (Figure 2). “Heavy Thoughts,” which is designed to echo August Rodin's “The Thinker,” shows a physician wearing the coat and contemplating its metaphorical weight (Figure 3). My intent was that together, these pieces spark further thought into what white coats represent and about how we change when we put them on.

FIGURE 1.

“Heavy Work.” Digital art. A marble sculpture of a white coat rising from raw material

FIGURE 2.

“Heavy Sleeves.” Digital art. A completed marble sculpture of a white coat

FIGURE 3.

“Heavy Thoughts.” Digital art. A marble sculpture of a physician in a contemplative pose reminiscent of Auguste Rodin's “The Thinker”