ROB EAKIN

Step inside Rob Eakin’s studio, where dismantled toys, electronics and everyday plastic parts become intricate, science-fiction-inspired sculptures.

A longtime participant in Cairns’ music and arts scene, Rob brings a lifetime of drawing, performing and experimenting to his work. In this film for the PROCESS exhibition at CRATE59, he explains how taking things apart leads to new possibilities, combining salvaged pieces through construction, melting and layers of detail.

At the centre of the conversation is a robotic figure posed like Rodin’s The Thinker. Behind its glossy black surface lies a question about humanity: what might an artificial intelligence experience if it learned empathy from us?

Rob shares the practical decisions and personal ideas behind the sculpture, from building a sturdy framework to using black paint to reveal its shapes and textures. It’s a candid look at the imagination, problem-solving and darker reflections that drive his work.