For my collection “Onbezonnen lust - adolescence innocence” I researched whether nostalgia can have a healing effect in a distressed environment/pandemic. A personal collection based on my old trusted barbie dollhouse from the past
Finding solace and escapism in a romanticized childhood dream that never really existed. Returning to the reckless ''delights'' of the barbie house. Idealizing the life of the barbie cliché. She is perfect, fake and unbreakable. The pretty lies the ugly truth. Put your doll face on.
In my collection, I focus on creating a clubhouse for freak show people, where the idealization of a fucked up teenage dream is paramount. Barbie is seen as an alter-ego, the ultimate cliché image for acceptance. This club is a reflection of the reality that the outsiders really dream of. To be able to offer a way out and solace within a plighted living environment. Embracing the ''perception and illusion'' of a better time and nostalgia, which can also be linked to the zeitgeist of today.
Childhood and adolescence is for most people the time of self-development, what if this is not possible where you are or live? The result is the idealization of the barbie woman - she has everything that is accepted in society. My club house can be seen as a safe haven for outsiders.
In this collection, the focus is on print and craft. Ecstasy of perception is embraced and seen as the canvas the outsiders really dream of. A free loose world to disappear into. All over prints with a blooming factor, freedom of expression.
Throughout my Amfi career, I have designed collections that run into each other in chapters. For example, ''de ochtendgloren'' (Ochten) stands for the name of the village where I grew up. In this way, each chapter highlights an aspect of my village/youth. In the last chapter, I complete the circle by ending with the most important nostalgic place there was in my life: my Barbie doll's house.
