Photo of the Day – Running the Numbers

BARBIE DOLLS, 2008nullPartial ZoomPartial Zoom of Chris Jordan's Barbie DollsDetails of Actual Print Sizeclose up of Barbie Dolls, 2008 by Chris Jordan Seattle Photographer Chris Jordan critiques American culture using statistics, waste and consumption. His work attempts to convey magnitude that is sometimes hard to imagine in statistical quantities. The actual print is 60″x80″  and composed of smaller individual photos. Barbie Dolls (2008) depicts 32,000 Barbies, which is equal to the number of elective breast augmentation surgeries performed monthly in the United States in 2006. It’s mind boggling to look at and gives me the same overwhelming feeling as star gazing. Check out this video of Jordan talking about the culture of consumption. 

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  1. EVELDAWG

    An amazing essay and unique perspective on consumption. The Barbies from a distance look like living cells, up close plastic as a material and a metaphor.

    Mar 08, 2008 @ 12:33 pm


  2. AJ

    I love how there is this tension between nature and made-made creations. How from afar the image appears to be a cell/living organism, but in actuality its made up of plastic dolls. It is an interesting dynamic.

    Mar 10, 2008 @ 11:10 pm

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