morbid art sculpture & dolls. Original / books of it

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Another stupid topic name. Can't just say "dolls", since people will associate with them automatically with children/girl toys.
No, we are not talking about toys, but pieces of art. Hand crafted sculptures/dolls, and the photographic art made based on them.
Lets use some examples first.













and so on.

All the "major" artists seems to have very unique style of crafting them. Be it Ryo Yoshida, Etsuko Miura, Mahoko Akiyama, Amano Katan etc. and when you buy their art books, their approach to ball-jointed doll is very diverse. Facial expression, shapes, etc. Some do very vivid and realistic, others go for morbid and obscure looks. Some go for malformations and grotesque, some for simply aim for utmost innocense and beauty.

Editions Treville is good publisher to look into. Big full color books where it's not just about exhibiting dolls, but they are part of bigger thing, where professional photography, best lights, set ups etc. all play role.

When you see these things in real life (was lucky to be guided into small basement exhibition somewhere in Tokyo), it's really nice. You don't often realise how big some of these are. Almost like real size, hand crafted from clay. It's not a plastic factory toys. It's really a sculpture, which you can simply place on different poses due ball-joint technic.

Many of the artists seem to have strange fascination on western looking little girls. And perhaps even more to Alice themed works. One can't underestimate the influenced of Lewis Carroll's tale on culture. Him, and his photography, riddles and storytelling in all it's bizarre nature would be worth of topic of it's own. Nevertheless, these doll making japanese artists often have very Alice like themes. For example Amano Katan's work, there often appears very morbid and sinister looking rabbit head. It looks simply devilish. Often placed near by the actual doll target, standing in suit & tie like human, or simply the rabbit face somewhere. The level of abnormal surrealism is something, that perhaps can't be captured with human targets. These sculpures are used as models to create highly bizarre works. I may take look on selected book on the field later on.

[LR]

who made the first picture in the top ?  very tasty!

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I think the doll is by Ryo Yoshida, but I don't know who is the photographer.
Most often, at least on my experience, all these books are 1 doll maker & 1 photographer -style team work. I don't know does doll maker take part in settings and other ideas.


For less artistic and more just bizarre, is the magazine "i-doloid". I have 3 issues of it. B5, full color, around 150 pages each I think. It's all about sex dolls. Some small figures just for decoration. Other action dolls. They publish sets of "real doll" type child dolls being molested with doldo's, collectable figures, teenage maid dolls, guides & tools for making them, links to shops, also photographic art with them. So anything from "pornography", to nerdy figure collecting. But all about sex dolls. Only in Japan. I would recommend to buy any issue you happen to come across, even if it doesn't really fall into category what I meant this topic to be...

[Andrew McIntosh]

Has to be done -

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There are shops in Japan selling photo-print style of postcards, most likely very small editions made by artists for specialist shops. Bought lots of those cards, and many of them framed on my walls looking like original photos.
When visiting Modern Music shop (of PSF label), they had original photos scattered around the shop, I asked why they were there, and seems like some female artists of PSF is also doll maker. You were browsing piles of LP's and suddenly stack of photos would be in middle, thrown in like garbage. Those dolls were more primitive ones. Not like the ones made by some of these professionals who have spent their lifetime to practise skills.

[Strömkarlen]

Although quite goth in appearance I think Joachim Luetkes Posthuman is worth a mention. Austrian guy that sculptures with doll heads and chicken pawn and still make them look almost saintly.



http://www.luetke.com/

[Strömkarlen]

I guess you all know about Körperwelten. http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html

More of a Wunderkammer than art in my opinion.



An Anatomical Opus by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.

Inspired by the latest advances in neuroscience, cardiology, biology, genetics, gerontology, psychiatry, and physiology.

Developed in cooperation with specialists across disciplines including the humanities and arts.

"We want to present to the public a comprehensive, multidisciplinary view of the various systems of the body," Dr. von Hagens said. "The Human Saga will show the workings of the brain, the heart, and other findings and phenomena about the human body," Dr. Whalley, Director of the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg.

BODY WORLDS & The Mirror of Time is the third and latest instalment of the groundbreaking anatomical exhibitions by trailblazing scientist, Dr. Gunther von Hagens, and will feature a special presentation on the human life cycle and ageing. The exhibit shows the complexity, resilience, and vulnerability of the human body through anatomical studies of the body in distress, disease, and optimal health.
Visitors to The Mirror of Time will witness the arc of ageing-the body living through time from the spark of conception to old age refracted through the latest findings in longevity and ageing science. "The older I get, the more I realize that death is normal and that it is life that is exceptional," said Dr. von Hagens. "I hope this exhibition will encourage people to strive to live with inspiration every day throughout their lives."

BODY WORLDS & The Brain - Our Three Pound Gem features the latest neuroscience findings on brain development and function; brain disease and disorders; and brain performance and improvement In keeping with his mission of educating lay people, Dr. Gunther von Hagens and his wife, Dr. Angelina Whalley, have created a holistic meditation on the brain that merges anatomy, neuroscience, and philosophy that resonates with everyone. "The brain is an incredible marvel of engineering. I wanted people to recognize what is known about this amazing gem inside our heads, and be awed by its possibilities and capacities," said Dr. von Hagens. "We wanted to present this most complex organ in a way that was accessible to the general public, and in the most elegant way," said Dr. Whalley, a physician who planned the BODY WORLDS exhibitions that have been seen so far by more than 29 million people worldwide.

BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart is organized according to the major systems of the body. This includes: the locomotive system, nervous system, reproductive system, digestive system and cardiovascular system. The exhibit also features a special presentation on the heart, revealing through the lens of anatomy, cardiology, psychology and culture how this four-chambered muscle nourishes, regulates and sustains life. Through the life-like and dramatic poses of full-body specimens and detailed presentation of organs and body parts, guests gain profound insights into the structure and function of healthy and unhealthy bodies.

[LR]

i think Paul McCarthy is worthy of a mention aswell, although i am not sure he really fits in to category
he had a big show in city of aarhus in denmark a few years back, very entertaining stuff. 

[tiny_tove]

I guess you all know about Körperwelten. http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html

I have seen two exhibs, got all videos available and I am still amazed. I am trying to go and see the latest one in Zurich, where there should be two corpses fucking.
I must admit that Von Hagen's work is more interesting and fascinating than disturbing, which is fine by me.


anyway, Timeless is selling Shintaro Kago's action figures:









http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=bsp&ver=1qygpcgurkovy

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Kago's comics are utmost bizarre. I have few of those. All I've seen in blogs I've been forwarded, are nowhere close to genious level of the books I have. No idea what they are about, but it's just visual cascade of sickening bizarro world.
His figures are more of clumsy and amusing, than rough. Last time I was in Japan, I did get some "collectibles" like little lolita figures from 500Jpy wending machines and anatomy study human body parts from 200Jpy wending machines.
I don't consider these "sculptures", more like pop art plastic toys.

[Plague Haus]

No idea where I saw these but I remember downloading the pics several years ago:

[FreakAnimalFinland]

ANATOMIA BAROCCA

Anatomia Barocca is a gorgeous collection of stunning color photos of very old wax anatomical models from the Museo Zoologico "La Specola" in Florence.

I think the Taschen book about this is quite similar. But when you compare the price and presentation, surely this Pan Exotica/Editions Treville has certain elegance what Taschen cheapo icons book series thing doesn't.
It also has decent introduction of the topic, it has introduction to how the proceeded making the photographs (museum didn't allow any studio lights, sunlight or such used! Due fragility of was sculptures). They are amazing detailed, sharp,... and grotesque!
In the text it tells about the cut open female figure bringing lustful emotions for people of the time. Rarely you could see close-up of female anatomy. And perhaps didn't bother that she was cut open and all the intestine bursting out.
At the same time there is life-like detail and obsessively accurate replicas of blood vessels and nerve systems, but also certain charming eerie atmosphere of lifelessness. It is just statues. Or models. Often posing as living, yet being like hellish nightmare.
Recommended!

In USA one can find these from Last Gasp for example, but to go to the source will be cheaper.

[yog]

Comic LO small gashapon figures

[ConcreteMascara]

I want to know what that secret one is...

[Unheard]

Tari  Nakagawa