The series began during the summer of 2007 when Torno was offered the opportunity to photograph an extensive collection of a vintage American toy: the renowned Barbie Doll. By experimenting with composition and light, the artist infuses “personalities” into otherwise lifeless plastic, and the photos of the famous figure evolve from simple documentation to a kind of portraiture. Although it is impossible to deny the semblance of personality that Torno has captured in these photographs, he explains that these images are not truly portraits because the human qualities necessary to impart insight into character are absent in the plastic figurines. The spectator may have a hard time believing this, however, given the convincing attitude and ambiance that accompanies the icon. His photographs are enhanced by Barbie’s breadth of genre and depth of style, as there is always another posh model waiting for her close-up. Through these vivid images of the timeless figure, Torno liberates Barbie from her box and places her again into the realm of the imagination.
Larry Torno
I am not a photographer.
I’m a designer.
I’m an observer.
I’m a composer.
I see the world around me as a series of shapes, forms and colors.
I absorb my surroundings; select what is essential and eliminate what is not.
I create compositions that tell me a story.
I’m an interpreter.
