I'll be honest, I don't really know who Mark Ryden is. According to Google, he is the "godfather of pop surrealism", which I am assuming is true although I have seen some extremely dodgy things come up on Google lately as purported facts.
The reason I know his name is because he did a Mattel collaboration to create some of the most visually striking Barbies of recent years.
To work through the multiple dolls he was involved with, it is easiest to start with Barbie at the Surrealist Ball. These dolls are not particularly extravagant at first glance, but -- and I don't know about you -- the more I look the more I find fascinating things to look at.
I couldn't begin to hope to put this into words. But just as you start to get a sense of these dolls, I propose moving along to Pink Pop Barbie.
Pink Pop Barbie is a fascinating creature. Creature is the only word I have for her. Don't even get me started on that flowerpot with a face, or her meat handbag. (Also, I thought that beast on four legs beside her was a sheep, but according to the official Mattel website, it is a yak. I don't know enough about yaks to dispute it.)
Then thirdly, please feast your eyes on Barbie Bee.
I mean. That sure is a Barbie Bee. There is no other word for it. In a way the simplest, and accordingly the most modestly priced, but it still evokes more questions than I could ever hope to have answered.
Modestly priced, you may ask. Yes, Mattel originally released this for $260 AUD. If you are asking how this is modestly priced, consider that the Barbie at the Surrealist Ball dolls tipped the scales at $860 AUD.
These are all sold out now, but you can still look upon these dolls on the Mattel website (at least, as of right now - I don't know how much longer they'll be there -- I guess it will be really funny if they're gone before my queue fires) as well as other parts of the collaboration, like brooches, tote bags and an umbrella
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Yall I can't explain how much this photo means to me.
I know the hellaverse can have its flaws but one of its qualities is how accepting it is of sexuality. You've got so much in this one pic!
Bee's flames being the pan flag, stolas' hair stripe being the male gay flag, ace Mammon, gay Fizz, ace via, trans lesbian sallie may- AHHHHHH
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barbie came out today??? good for her
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tomorrow i’ll be dropping a handful of new patterns on my etsy- here’s a preview of one of them!
today at work a customer was like “i didn’t think you were a barbie girl” and i was like “👁️👁️ what did you think i was”
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