When one does representational work with fabrics it is almost unavoidable to meet a few people over the course of time that will refer to our work as “dolls” or toys. Yet few people will go to the sculptor who uses clay as a main medium and refer to their work as pottery. There exactly lies the sexist discrimination of the medium. As a long time textile sculptress I see a big change happening and our material gaining its proper place among great works of art. Despite that we are still forced to go super-big for our work to claim that status. If our dolls are not monumental they are still classified as something less than art, as if it is not just mathematics (and I know very few knitters and crocheters that are not also skilled, although sometimes practical, mathematicians). If I decide to make something 30 cm or 3 m tall the only difference is in my calculations.
On this occasion I was asked to do something more simplified as this doll will be the model for a soft-sculpture workshop. Therefor it had to be plain, simple, more a doll than a work of art, on account of the fact that there is no clear side-story to it. The shape is simple and doll-like and so is the posture. And after all, even if I cast it in bronze it would still be a doll. Or is it?
The Doll: 60 X 15 X 17 cm, wire, paper, fabrics, 2023
