Creating a more sinister style

My first thing to consider when making more sinister dolls was the materials and what messages they convey. I chose calico fabric because of the off-white colour and clinical appearance, plus it can be frayed, torn, and stained. Unlike my felt dolls, I created the limbs separately to the body, and then attached them loosely with red thread. All of the stitching in the doll is visible and rough, it has a rawness similar to what I observed in the various museum artefacts like the Haitian magical box.  The stitching is also another medical reference. I associate this with voodoo and torture as well, so the doll encapsulates a lot of pain especially with the red thread alluding to blood and amputation of the limbs. I wrapped wire around the legs and arms, partly to indicate hands and feet but also to emphasise that feeling of torture and bondage – it has a harsh texture, reminding me of fences and barbed wire which are hostile and unwelcoming. The eyes are knotted and the face stitched on, with no other features. It’s like a mask, and the doll cannot speak. I made some holes and tears in the fabric to give it a sense of wear and damage, then used black ink to make it look sort of dirty and used. Overall, I am really happy with how this doll turned out and in accordance with my feedback I have decided to create more of them.

 

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