Before the movie "Barbie", the doll has become an inspiration for the art world many times
Discover 7 works of art where the world's most famous doll is the "muse."
Barbara Millicent Roberts, or Barbie, is one of the most recognizable "faces" in the world. Debuting in 1959, Barbie quickly became an integral part of American culture, eventually inspiring everything from the super-feminine Barbiecore aesthetic to vibrant feminist discourses, the standard of what beauty and commercialism.
So, it's no wonder that the plastic doll - muse, model, icon of pop culture - and her multitude of accessories have become a powerful source of inspiration for artists.
You will see many famous people of the 20th century appear in Andy Warhol's work, such as Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O., Queen Elizabeth II and Muhammad Ali. No one was surprised when, in 1986, he began to notice Barbie - one of the most popular characters of the time.
Ironically, however, the portrait he wanted to paint from scratch was not Barbie, but artist, activist and fashion designer BillyBoy* - Andy's longtime friend. But BillyBoy* repeatedly refused. When weary of Andy Warhol's invitation, BillyBoy* replied: "If you really want to paint my portrait, paint a portrait of Barbie, because Barbie is c'est moi (Barbie is me)."
American photographer David Levinthal's career revolves around meticulously choreographed dolls and toys, creating images that look like they were cut from the movies, or like the dolls are living in real life. Through these images, Levinthal explores everything from popular culture and historical events to politics and racism.
In the series "Barbie", the photographer used the doll as a fashion model, perfectly dressed and posing as in an advertising campaign or in a fashion magazine. From there, Levinthal shows how women, as well as their bodies, were and are being commercialized, especially in the post-war period.
In the "Plastic Bodies" series by photographer Sheila Pree Bright, the line between humans and dolls is strangely blurred. Combining Barbie dolls with real women, the artist visualizes the pressure of beauty standards - especially white standards. In contemporary culture, "perfection" is an impossible goal that women must always pursue, prompting the artist to depict the female body as more and more like a replica of a doll, instead of the other way around. .
Carefully combining elements of Barbie with women, Pree Bright talks about the insidiousness of "perfection", while also calling for complex reflections on the influence of the way culture and mass media portray women.
Actress, model and artist Beau Dunn, based in Los Angeles, has long been interested in Barbie because of her status in collectors and contemporary culture. The “Plastic” series offers an incredibly feminine and flawless Barbie – both classic and modern versions. The work attracted a huge audience, with several editions appearing at the homes of Claudia Schiffer and Kylie Jenner.
The series of photos provoked discussions about Barbie as a toy for children and the socio-cultural need for "perfection". The photos are created from the artist's own experiences growing up in Los Angeles, where the pressures of a perfect body and an enviable wardrobe run high.
Born in Cairo and now based in New York, artist and designer Sara Zaher uses Barbie to discuss symbolism, as well as social, cultural and political issues. “As for why I chose Barbie, my work focuses on subverting familiar symbols to create new narratives,” says Zaher. I wanted to attach a sense of familiarity, or humanity, to Barbie, as a character capable of sacrifice, redemption, and re-creation.”
While many people see Barbie as a symbol of the trend to "materialize" women, Zaher sees Barbie as an opportunity to break this connection and create a new story. Humorous, witty, and sometimes even irreverent, Zaher's interpretations contribute to broader discourses about cultural flexibility.
ArtActivistBarbie has been active on Twitter for more than four years, appearing in museums and galleries, dressing up as Barbie, with a lollipop stick protest, criticizing the male-dominated art world treat.
As the "brainchild" of University of Huddersfield lecturer Sarah Williamson, the project initially aimed to engage students in social issues. The test was a success and the project gained 17,500 followers. Challenging the notion that "Barbie represents impossible and frivolous standards," Williamson crafted a story in which Barbie is an activist - a shift that parallels the feminist message she conveys. spread through ArtActivistBarbie.
Using her daughter's dollhouse and a 1965 replica of Barbie (first version with bent legs), Andrea McCafferty creates images and stories reminiscent of classic movies and television. "The End of the Affair" is inspired by a novel from the 1950s. In it, Barbie wears a chic bob with a fur-trimmed coat, looking like a scene from a dramatic TV series.
Andrea McCafferty shoots many Barbies in colour, but in this series she used black and white to create an Alfred Hitchcock atmosphere. The carefully choreographed backdrop and cinematic quality evoke Cindy Sherman's "Untitled Film Stills," but here the star is American icon Barbie.
According to Annikka Olsen | Artnet
