Artwork
Second-hand
Second-hand is a print by Rachel Whiteread. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Second-hand is a print artwork by Rachel Whiteread, utilizing rapid prototyping technology to create a miniature, layered plastic model of a cardboard box, scaled down to dollhouse furniture size.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork replicates mundane, often-overlooked objects (a cardboard box, dollhouse furniture) in a diminutive form, evoking the ephemeral nature of everyday items and the concept of 'absence' through its ghostly, layered reconstruction.
Technique & Style
Employing stereolithography, Whiteread's process involves computer-aided design, laser printing, and ultraviolet light hardening of sintered nylon layers (5-10 per millimetre) to achieve the three-dimensional model.
Context
Second-hand aligns with Whiteread's broader practice of casting interior spaces and everyday objects, highlighting overlooked aspects of domestic life through innovative, industrial techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dame Rachel Whiteread (born 20 April 1963) is an English artist who primarily produces sculptures, which typically take the form of casts.
