New Series: PLASTIC IDOLS
Plastic Idols - an Artist's Statement
Some of the earliest archaeological artifacts show humans making tiny anthropomorphic figures.The desire to represent ourselves in miniature seems to be innate. Perhaps this is because these figures might enable us to visualize ourselves in other ways, maybe with superpowers; impervious to pain and suffering, or perhaps even as beings. Immortal. These tiny versions of ourselves can be destroyed, re-created, and replaced. No wonder they are often seen with mystical powers to heal or harm.
It’s no surprise that some of these early figures are even thought to be fertility gods or fetishes. Thanks to 3-D printing and imaging, we can even have tiny figures of ourselves. Perhaps we can even achieve a type of immortality through these figures.
This phenomenon also seems to be universal across cultures and across time. Most cultures produce some type of little figures as art, toys, or even ceremonial or medicinal objects. Occasionally they even become fads and transform a culture almost overnight with tiny representations of whatever the trendiest new figure is. Some tiny icons seem Kun time does icons in permeate almost all aspects of our society.
As children, my sisters, friends, and I would play endlessly, creating a make-believe city in our basement. Even though we were little kids, we could pretend to drive cars build houses, create businesses, fly airplanes, and ride trains, all within the safety of our playroom. We had plenty of building blocks and building materials. What was always hard to find was people, especially women. We made do with various soldiers, animals, and whatever we could find. Over time we build up a nice collection of play figures. When our family home burned up, all of these originals were lost. Perhaps this loss has motivated me to build a new collection of lots of random figures. I am interested in collecting figures from the past 75 years or so.
In each toy picture I create, there are figures that I hope many generations can relate to and perhaps even ones they even played with in their childhood. I try to continually update this collection and add new figures as well as the older ones.
I try to make an effort to select figures that are not too stereotypical or portray any group negatively, or reflect negative stereotypes. I also try to leave out figures that are potentially scary or figures with weapons, political or sports figures, and those with religious references.
To begin a new scene, I have to select figures carefully and then create a supporting substrate so that the heights of one figure as it relates to another make sense. This process takes many, many hours over days or weeks. It is often a series of trials and errors. I remove figures and add new figures and change figures.
If a figure doesn’t stand up, I have to add support or build some type of structure to help them stand up. I have a workshop in the studio with hand tools, power tools etc. Duct tape, zip ties, doll stands, and various wires are in each scene and hopefully invisible to the viewer.
After I’ve done all this, I begin to work on the lighting. The lighting is different for each scene, and I have a bank of lights that I carefully adjust based on what is needed for the particular see. Only after all of this is done do I begin making test shots hoping to get one that will deliver the image I am searching for.
Staging scenes can be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating. One wrong move and one figure can fall, knocking down multiple figures in front of it, beside it, or even behind it. And I have to make repairs. It can be very frustrating. However, it is also incredibly fun when everything is coming together. I catch myself talking to the figures asking them to stand as I move them around. I can lose track of time making these micro-final adjustments.
Looking for the final shot, I will leave the scene up for several days or weeks to have several photo sessions, and most of these photos are deleted as I try to find the one I feel I can work with. Once I have the final image, sometimes very small adjustments are made in post-production. I want the photograph you see to be what you would see if you’re looking at it in real life.
Which Figure Grabs Your Attention?
In each toy picture I create, there are figures that I hope many generations can relate to and perhaps even ones they even played with in their childhood. I try to continually update this collection and add new figures as well as the older ones.
Idols are Universal
Most cultures produce some type of little figures as art, toys, or even ceremonial or medicinal objects. Occasionally they even become fads and transform a culture almost overnight with tiny representations of whatever the trendiest new figure is.