ARTSY FARTSY

FIGURINES

I am a sucker for a good figurine. I like the kitch, I like the chotch, and I like how looking at cute little things can spark up memories a lot better than a picture on a desk or table or shelf could. Above is "Duckie." Inspired by my ex who pointed out that this smug little expression was just the look I always make, he is one of my very favorites.

I'm not the only one on Team Figurine. While my argument for them is based on the meaning you put into them, Barnaby Bradford makes a great argument for the inherent meaning they can seemingly possess and the exquisite irony that can manifest from them. Below are two pieces from his collection The Good, The Bad, The Belle.

Do It Again, I Didn't Press Record

According to the 31-year-old, the works in his collection were developed to represent today's youth and how it is usually seen by the older generation.

The artists said: "It's been interesting to see different people's reactions to the models. Some people think they're horrific and others think they're funny. I think people are shocked because the models catch them off guard - they're seeing these usually traditional, pretty porcelain models in a totally new context."

He acquires the original porcelain models from car-boot sales as well as from charity shops. Then Mr. Barford dismantles them and starts transforming the "naive" image of childhood into more humorous and contemporary image of today's kids, equipping his figures with modern attributes like mobile phones and fast-food meals, which he thoroughly makes. SOURCE

Happy Meal

CUTE.