Thanks, tomnovy. Yes, I was a bit nervous about posting it at all, and in this forum in particular. But I'm pleased it was accommodated, and that this forum is broadminded enough for portraiture away from the mainstream.
It is indeed a self portrait. The eyes are mine, all the bits make a narrative about me, and of course it was made by me. The dolls head is 19th century French porcelain, found in an antiques shop in the box as you see here. It was morphed on a male adult face in Portrait Professional.
Thanks reyvee61. When I was chatting to the owner of the antiques shop, he remarked how he had tried to get his young nieces to take an interest in the antique dolls he has, but they were repulsed by them. I have a similar reaction to them, though I can also appreciate them for the connection they make for us to childhood a century and a half ago.
I am also interested in how they are in their way an idealisation of the human face. "Pretty as a doll". That continues to be the case with modern dolls. But with these antique dolls, there is a poignancy which comes from the original owners, the kids, having lived their lives and gone. The doll remains in our hands with all the fantasies which those kids invested in it. In a similar way, we as our "older" selves are fascinated with the relics of our own past young selves, and we still very strongly try to realise our childish ideals.
I see a connection too with dolls and glamour photography. I think it's an interesting idea to work backwards from glamour photography, to humanise the ideal glamour image, rather than idealise the human image as happens in glamour photography. Psychologically, I think we all know the experience of feeling the tension between an ideal and childlike version of our selves, and an ageing, failing and fallen version. Which version is the truer, is the question. Picture of Dorian Grey idea. Then again, I think it's also a common psychological experience that we feel there is some part of our "original" selves which is inaccessible, sort of bolted down, and that this circumstance prevents us from truly "waking up" as adults.
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But well done!
Thanks, tomnovy. Yes, I was a bit nervous about posting it at all, and in this forum in particular. But I'm pleased it was accommodated, and that this forum is broadminded enough for portraiture away from the mainstream.
It is indeed a self portrait. The eyes are mine, all the bits make a narrative about me, and of course it was made by me. The dolls head is 19th century French porcelain, found in an antiques shop in the box as you see here. It was morphed on a male adult face in Portrait Professional.
Neil
http://www.behance.net/brosepix
You're welcome!
Neil
http://www.behance.net/brosepix
Thanks reyvee61. When I was chatting to the owner of the antiques shop, he remarked how he had tried to get his young nieces to take an interest in the antique dolls he has, but they were repulsed by them. I have a similar reaction to them, though I can also appreciate them for the connection they make for us to childhood a century and a half ago.
I am also interested in how they are in their way an idealisation of the human face. "Pretty as a doll". That continues to be the case with modern dolls. But with these antique dolls, there is a poignancy which comes from the original owners, the kids, having lived their lives and gone. The doll remains in our hands with all the fantasies which those kids invested in it. In a similar way, we as our "older" selves are fascinated with the relics of our own past young selves, and we still very strongly try to realise our childish ideals.
I see a connection too with dolls and glamour photography. I think it's an interesting idea to work backwards from glamour photography, to humanise the ideal glamour image, rather than idealise the human image as happens in glamour photography. Psychologically, I think we all know the experience of feeling the tension between an ideal and childlike version of our selves, and an ageing, failing and fallen version. Which version is the truer, is the question. Picture of Dorian Grey idea. Then again, I think it's also a common psychological experience that we feel there is some part of our "original" selves which is inaccessible, sort of bolted down, and that this circumstance prevents us from truly "waking up" as adults.
Neil
http://www.behance.net/brosepix