Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait

[brian_igo]

Very disturbing and cool.

Barbie Dolls, 2008 60x80"

Depicts 32,000 Barbies, equal to the number of elective breast augmentation surgeries performed monthly in the US in 2006.

Detail at actual print size

[magenta321]

My initial reaction is that I can't believe that many women are so shallow, because I thought of implants.

My second reaction is "oh, it's reductions too." Reductions can be medical.

My third reaction is "oh, and those are patients who have undergone mastectomies too. "

I sympathize more with the last group, and feel sorry for the first two groups.

[brian_igo]

I don't know the source of the data, but the artist does specify that this represents 32,000 elective breast augmentations per month in 2006. And if he is being precise in his language, an augmentation isn't the same as a reduction.

I though the entire series was provocative. It's not an original concept, but I think he's executed it well.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

Very disturbing and cool.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting it!

[theworm[$]]

Oh wow!
I would love to see this collection in person! I wonder if it'll be anywhere close to here (have to go back and read that!)
How thought provoking! I love it!

[lynnzop[$]]

The closeup of the Barbies is disturbing.

The Big Picture is pretty darned cool, from an artistic perspective.

I think I'd like to see the exhibit too.

I went and looked at the other pictures, and the ones I find most intriguing are those that have something "else" in the larger picture (like the Barbies...if you look closely, you'll see two breasts in the shading). Maybe all of them have it, but I'm not seeing it (like those stupid Magic Eye pictures...I have a hard time with those too!!).

Very interesting, thanks for sharing, Brian.