For years, artist Amber Hawk Swanson has lived with a RealDoll replicate of herself. She had commissioned her own silicone clone for art performance, academic inquiry and yes, companionship. Unlike most mates of “doll husbands” found within the RealDoll community, Amber Doll has had a venturesome life, playing the “literal object” to a series of artistic performances/social experiments. Exploring the notions of power and the social narrative that declares women as objects, the artist has left her exact replica unattended at a football tail gate party, a roller skating rink, a theme park, and an erotica expo, documenting the interactions.
The results were culturally fascinating, difficult, at times genuinely disturbing and sometimes, a bit confusing. For example, Hyperallergic reports that Ustream has recently censored her latest performance involving the disembowelment of Amber Doll in an attempt to transform her into a small replica of a bull ocra killerwhale because of their no nudity policy, despite the fact that the nudity was artificial. (The project now lives on at Livestream).
Check out some snaps of highlights from Amber and Amber Doll’s wedding reception performance and some C-prints of the duo’s unsettling misadventures below.
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Hold, Cake Cut, 2007. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Violate, Girls Gone Wild (eXXXotica), 2008. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches. See the video here.
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Hold, Bibbidi Bobbidi (After), 2008. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Violate, Tailgate (Bears v. Saints), 2007. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches. See the video here.
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Violate, Tailgate Mouth, 2007. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Have, Rollerrink, 2007. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches
Amber Hawk Swanson, To Violate, Rollerrink, 2007. C-print, life-sized Real Doll made in artist’s exact likeness. 30 inches x 40 inches
We think Amber/Amber Doll’s relationship has yielded some very thought-provoking scenarios. What do you think?