Dolls

In 1993 Anna Heylen designed a wonderful series of handmade dolls for Antwerp, European City of Culture.
These dolls are still travelling the world today and are exhibited in international museums and galleries.

The public life of the Dolls began in 1993.
“What does fashion mean to you”? was the question.
Carefully, and almost obsessively, Anna Heylen started to create dozens of identically Dolls.
Every doll is a unique piece.
The dolls are: Faceless, Sexless and Hers.

Initially, fashion designer Anna Heylen became recognized, and admired, for her “dolls”. That happened in 1993, when Antwerp was declared the Cultural Capital of Europe. For an exhibit in the Sint Felix Pakhuis, Anne Heylen created 130 identical and sexless dolls that she suspended from practically invisible threads. A surprising spectacle, as the dolls acquired an individual identity through the clothing that Anna Heylen had designed for them. These garments are an unending source of small details, a dazzling display of inventiveness and referrals to hand-made creations, handcrafts, manifestations of inspiration and clever finds, cultures, expressions of fashion and passions.

“Why dolls?” “Out of love. Love for the profession. Nothing more than that”… that’s why she says. But likewise: “These dolls are my soul and my great frustration”. And until this very day, Anna remains caught up in the fascination exerted by her dolls that, as it were, each reveals a small segment of her soul. The dolls have traveled all across the globe, from Antwerp to Paris and from London to Sao Paolo and Arnhem. Some of them have already left the family and found a happy home amongst her fans. But new dolls are annually joining the family circle. Today the number.. how many?!

Timeline

1993 – Antwerp cultural capital, exhibition of 130 Dolls at St Felix Pakhuis
1995 – Sao Paolo, Brazil, Labirinta di Moda, exhibition at the museum of Sao Paolo
1997 – Antwerp Docks, China Town, Dolls’ exhibition at the River Side London, window at Browns Paris, Dolls at Workshop
1999 – Antwerp, Museum of fine arts, Dolls collection devoted to Antoon Van Dijck Year
2008 – Mercator Gallery, overview life of Dolls
2009 – Arnhem, The Netherlands, Arnhem Mode Biennale. Maison Anna Heylen, Permanent exhibition of a selection of Dolls.