Though her real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, for most people she’s just Barbie.
Calling her a doll would be belittling. Barbie is a global icon, and in 56 years she has managed to knock down every linguistic, cultural, social, and anthropological barrier. This is why she has attracted people’s attention as a cultural and sociological phenomenon, and institutions of the calibre of the Louvre in Paris and the Vittoriano in Rome are dedicating exhibitions to her.
After the must-see exhibition in Milan, and the current equally successful exhibition in Rome, on 18 May, Barbie. The Icon will open at Palazzo Albergati in Bologna, continuing through 2 October 2016.
Arthemisia Group will be organising the exhibition in Bologna, enhancing the cities rich cultural offerings alongside exhibitions dedicated to Egypt at the Archaeological Museum, to Edward Hopper at Palazzo Fava and to Street Art at Palazzo Pepoli.
“It is now clear that we really do believe in this city – says Iole Siena, President of Arthemisia Group – and today I can proudly confirm that our work has objectively brought good results, as evidenced by the numbers. We wish to pursue the cooperation with all the city’s institutions and to contribute, according to our possibilities, to confirm the cultural relevance of Bologna”.
The exhibition has been enriched further with some new loans, these include rare Sixties Vintage models to the Silkstone Barbie Dolls fashion. 
Other inclusions are the Fashion Model Barbie Dolls and Lingerie Model Barbie Dolls, these unique Barbies were made of a very hard plastic, to imitate porcelain. They became immediately popular because of their vintage flair, reaching a prominent place in many collections.
Barbie. The Icon tells the incredible story of a doll that has interpreted the aesthetic and cultural transformations of society for more than half a century. However, unlike other contemporary legends, worn out by the passing of time, the Barbie doll has had the privilege of being timeless, crossing eras and distant lands, representing over 50 different nationalities and thus reinforcing her identity as a reflection of the global imaginary.
Since 9th March 1959, the day Barbie was first introduced at the New York International Toy Fair, she has had hundreds of careers. She has been to the moon, served as a UNICEF Ambassador, worn 1 billion outfits equal to 980 million metres of fabric. But most importantly, Barbie has changed with the times – and this doesn’t mean just fads and fashions. She has always kept up with the world’s trends and became an absolute icon.
This exhibition was designed to offer different perspectives on Barbie. Detailed historical and cultural facts will guide adults, and interactive games and other engaging activities will help children learn all about Barbie.
The seventh and last section, Diva, Celebrity and Work of Art. Barbie Global Icon tells us how over time Barbie has identified with and come to terms with many of the heroines of her day and age. The displays are dedicated to Fifties and Sixties Hollywood movie stars, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and many others. As well as being identified with the divas of the contemporary age, Barbie has been transformed into some of the legendary historical figures, women who, thanks to their personality, have become veritable cultural icons: Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Catherine de’ Medici, Madame Pompadour.
Barbie has also been inspired by art. From the early 1960s, she has conversed with the world of painting, museums, and galleries. In 1964 Barbie’s Modern Art outfit was created, the prelude to the refined Artist Series, inaugurated between 1997 and 1998, which in turn pays tribute to the greatest names in art: the dolls in this series wear outfits reproducing famous paintings: Water Lily™ Barbie® Doll, inspired by Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, and Reflections of Light™ Barbie® Doll, inspired by the light effects in the work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. In 2011, for the series Museum Collection Barbie instead becomes the interpreter of several icons of painting, from Leonardo da Vinci to Klimt, to Van Gogh, Manet and Dalí.
The exhibition ends with a mailbox where children can leave letters, suggestions, or drawings for Barbie.
Barbie. The Icon Exhibition – Where and how
Palazzo Albergati
Via Saragozza 28 – Bologna
18 May – 2 October 2016
Opening hours
Monday 2 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(The ticket office closes one hour before closing.)
Tickets
Adults € 13,00 (audio guide included)
Discount € 11,00 (audio guide included)
Children € 5,00 from 4 to under 11 years
Info and reservations
T +39 051 030 10 15
www.ticket24ore.it/barbie
See more from Barbie. The Icon Exhibition in the gallery below
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