Dawn Hunter: Device for and Emotional Journey

My Barbie Series: Device for an Emotional Journey

Formal and pop traditions are addressed in these Barbie drawings by combining
seemingly disparate objects and images. I began using dolls in my artwork as a means
of exploring traditional topics of perception by organizing them in still-lifes. After selecting
Barbie as the central subject for some of my artwork, I initially explored the impact that
twentieth-century technology had on the creation of Barbie. As a child she was my
favorite toy, her quality and beauty unrivaled. My memories of play and past perceptions
led me to explore her identity as a prize/trophy representation of femininity. Using
graphite, ink and watercolor, I created each work with a general feeling or idea in mind,
and by posing a doll as one might pose a live model. I did not predetermine content of
the drawings. By responding to the materials and image, I discovered and developed the
narrative in form and content for each work. By utilizing Barbie as a surrogate and
stereotype, I deconstructed her unobtainable status by juxtaposing her against
multiple-image narratives that portray domesticity and mortality in content. The images
were taken from popular movie stills, and addressed political and gender issues while
simultaneously serving as personal testimony.

Please click on the thumbnails of each work below to view a larger image.