Artist Daena Title is breaking down society’s constructs of female beauty with the launch of her innovative art exhibition, Drown the Dolls.
Each work in Title’s painting and photographic series portrays a doll fully submerged in water, seemingly drowning while maintaining her trademark composure.
Using the iconic image of Barbie™ as her muse, Title appropriates the ideals of female perfection thrust upon society via the plastic playmate. “…[Barbie is a] 50 year old icon that women hate to love and love to hate…everyone seems to have their own Barbie story,” explains Title.
The series speaks to how women see themselves reflected in Barbie’s image. Barbie’s plastic smile, flowing blonde locks and unrealistic proportions represent the quixotic view of women that society has come to objectify.
The drowning dolls serve as a metaphor for the female subconscious: a part of every woman is drowning in society’s impossible expectations, gasping for air while relentlessly trying to recover her diminished self-esteem.
Title’s showcase will open at the Koplin Del Rio art gallery in Culver City on January 8, 2011. Learn more about Drown the Dolls, check out celeb interviews and share your own Barbie stories at www.facebook.com/drownthedolls
Watch an exclusive Barbie story interview with Camryn Manheim.
