VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

Valley of the Dolls, taken from the film Valley of the Dolls (1967), directed by Mark Robson, is a site-specific installation exploring how themes such as decay, glamor and addiction can be expressed materially through sculpture, drawing and video. As the clear sticky sculptures move, fall, solidify, soften and sweat, she looks at how things fall apart over time and how we control these forms of entropy. 

Often using wax, resin and soap, Thompson infuses soapy shell shapes with vodka, eyeshadow, lipstick, cherry syrups and pearls. Calling to the stickiness of desire, the sculptures gushing out their insides, sprawled around resemble emotions along the floors: embodying both demons and pleasures inherent in everyday existence.

ABOUT JULIA THOMPSON

Artist Julia Thompson (B. Toronto, 1996) works in sculpture, video, perfume and drawing using strange but familiar materials like vodka, wax, soap, resin, lipstick, eyeshadow and candy. Working through the same body of work for the last 10 years with materials that decay, harden, soften, and transform their sticky properties become affected; serving as a testament to memory.

PHOTO CREDITS

Portrait: Samantha King
Artwork: Costa Virtanen
Exhibition: Matthew Kavanagh & Santi Hurtado / 07-c

Production and Curation: CO,MA
Courtesy of CO,MA