The highly anticipated Barbie: The Exhibition is scheduled to open at the esteemed Design Museum in London this week, presenting a comprehensive display of the iconic doll’s evolution spanning a significant 65-year period. Commencing on July 5th and expected to run until February 23rd, the exhibition will showcase a remarkable collection of over 250 items from the expansive Barbie universe, inclusive of an assortment of dolls reflecting her evolving aesthetic, design concept sketches, and her quintessential dream houses.
Enthusiasts attending the exhibition will have the exclusive opportunity to behold the inaugural Barbie model released in 1959, distinguished by her signature blonde hair, distinctively angled eyes, and a timeless black-and-white swimsuit. Additionally, the exhibition will prominently feature subsequent models representing a spectrum of diverse races, hair textures, and body shapes, as well as pioneering dolls notably including the Black Barbie and one depicting a wheelchair user.
Furthermore, the exhibition will pay tribute to Barbie’s multifaceted professional endeavors by showcasing her in various career roles such as a police officer, scientist, doctor, president, and even as a voter. A noteworthy inclusion in the exhibition will be a dedicated segment to honour Barbie’s enduring companion, Ken, who made his debut in 1961.
Notably, the curator of the exhibition, Danielle Thom, expressed her earnest desire for visitors, whether long-standing Barbie enthusiasts or sceptics, to gain a newfound appreciation for the meticulous research and exacting design process underpinning the development of the Barbie brand. In an interview, she articulated, “I do hope that people come away having learned something about … how this brand has come into being and managed to dominate the toy market for such a long period of time.”
The scheduling of this exhibition is particularly opportune, coinciding with Barbie’s momentous 65th birthday celebration, further buoyed by the resounding success of last year’s Barbie movie, which amassed an impressive US$1.4 billion (S$1.9 billion) in global box office revenue. Speaking to this trend, Kim Culmone, Senior Vice President of Design for Mattel, remarked, “Barbie’s resonance and culture has never been larger, more prominent.”
In essence, Barbie: The Exhibition in London stands as a genuinely enthralling retrospective meticulously chronicling the unparalleled evolution of the iconic doll over the past six decades. With its vast and diverse collection of artifacts from the expansive Barbie universe, the exhibition is poised to offer an enlightening and enriching insight into the enduring dominance of Barbie in the toy industry for over 65 years.