This week's Culturally Curious Hop at The Wick takes you to 'Barbie®: The Exhibition' at The Design Museum in London.
Over the past 65 years, Barbie has become a cultural phenomenon, not just as a piece of design but also through the world created which references design through the ages. This unique exhibition and retrospective features over 250 objects, including 180 iconic Barbie dolls curated by Danielle Thom.
Highlights include rare dolls like the 1959 'Number 1 Barbie' and there is also a focus on the importance of Barbie’s Dreamworld which showcases the influence of designers such as Florence Knoll and Frank Gehry and elevates Barbie and her world into a phenomenon that continually references popular culture through her clothes, home and work.
The phenomenon of Barbie couldn't be ignored last year as Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling hit the big screens and grossed nearly $1.5 billion in the box office. The object was transformed into a layered nuanced character exploring patriarchy, feminism and existential crisis.
The exhibition also showcases fashion collaborations with designers like Oscar de la Renta. Emphasising Barbie's evolution in diversity and inclusion, the exhibition features milestones like the first Black, Hispanic, and Asian dolls, and Barbie with Down syndrome, reflecting societal changes and promoting inclusivity. The Wick got a chance to catch up with curator Danielle Thom and Chief Executive & Director of the Design Museum Tim Marlow and hear about this long-planned exhibition.
Open to the public until February 2025.
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