The Doll Scene: crazy, cool, custom-designed dolls
Carla Sinclair
Dolls aren’t only for kids, especially when we’re talking about Blythe, Pullip, Monster High and other super cute, mostly Japanese-inspired dolls. Artists from around the world use these ball-jointed dolls (flexible and made to be customized) as canvas to modify with paint, hand-sewn clothing, wigs, props, accessories and new (exchangeable) body parts. Some of these modified dolls pop with color and cuteness, while others rattle with horror or haunting sadness. These artists also create spectacular worlds in which the dolls live, such as the meticulously ornate, gothic dioramas of Rebeca Cano (Cookie Dolls) from Spain, or the groovy candy-colored backdrops created by Sheena Aw (Caramelaw) from Singapore. The results can be exquisite and dramatic, as we see in The Doll Scene, which highlights 25 of the world’s best doll customizers. With a short bio and many glossy, high-quality photographs dedicated to each artist, this book might just impel you to buy your own doll and a set of paints.
