I guess my fascination with dolls and their utter perfection would have to stem back to childhood. I never had a Ken doll or a G.I. Joe but fortunately for me, my cousins did. I remember being about seven and anytime I had a doll in front of me, I would strip it down.

If that confession didn’t freak you out, then maybe I wasn’t alone. I mean, it is normal to wonder why Barbie is missing nipples and why Ken is missing essentials to pee, right? I did know something for sure. I knew that Ken looked great on paper. His baby blue eyes were perfection and his bone structure was flawless. He was the ultimate dreamboat and G.I. Joe his rougher more muscular counterpart, but in reality these guys were incomplete.

I remember thinking, “How can I help this guy out?”…One afternoon, I took a Red Crayola marker and two hand puppets out of my toy bin. (The puppets were no where near “Dreamboat” doll material but even at seven I was a firm believer in “Do what you can, where you are, with what you got”). One puppet was a rabbit and one was a bear. I painted nipples and a vagina on the rabbit and a penis and testicles on the bear. In my imagination, these poor creatures were now whole. They were now complete. Fast forward to the present and I would remember that day vividly as if I was reliving it and I guess I was. I was working on a doll half wearing a bunny costume and another wearing a bear costume. One was a Ken doll and the other a G.I. Joe. I was seven all over again and it felt great.

As an adult still strongly attached to my childhood curiosity; I still carry those fantasies and unanswered questions. Thankfully,  I am now able to answer and express those ideas and fantasies…visually.

Although, I no longer use that Red Crayola marker, it still resonates in every image I create.

NOTICE:

1. PLASTIQUE IMAGES ARE A COMBINATION OF 1 PART DOLL AND 1 PART MODEL

2. THE TORSOS ON THESE DOLLS ARE IN FACT REAL BODIES

3. NO DOLLS OR MODELS WERE HARMED IN THE CREATION OF THESE IMAGES

ALEXANDER GUERRA

BORN AND RAISED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA TO CUBAN PARENTS

I NOW RESIDE IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

BIG THANK YOU'S TO:

Stephan for putting up with all the dolls around the house, supporting me and for being my canvas carpenter!
Geneovy for being my cheerleader in all of this!
My Grandmother "MamaGladys" for buying me my first 35mm Camera when I was 8!


Joe for coming up with the idea for a collaboration and then offering me the window!
Maria for being so helpful and attentive while we put the window up!
Jim for hooking me up with the great people at "Papi Underwear"!
Lucio for supporting my idea and allowing me to become a part of the "Papi" family!

&

All my models for dropping their pants!