The new series began during the summer of 2007 when Larry Torno was
offered the opportunity to photograph an extensive collection of a
vintage American toy: the renowned Barbie Doll. By experimenting with
composition and light, the artist infuses personalities into otherwise
lifeless plastic, and the photos of the famous figure evolve from simple
documentation to a kind of portraiture. Although it is impossible to
deny the semblance of personality that Torno has captured in these
photographs, he explains that these images are not truly portraits
because the human qualities necessary to impart insight into character
are absent in the plastic figurines. The spectator may have a hard time
believing this, however, given the convincing attitude and ambiance
accompanying the icon. His photographs are enhanced by Barbie's breadth
of genre and depth of style, as there is always another posh model
waiting for her close-up. Through these vivid images of the timeless
figure, Torno liberates Barbie from her box and places her again into
the realm of the imagination.
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