2. Introduction
As I thoughtfully roam the city streets on my daily commute, I've become
enraptured with storefront displays and their mannequins. These window
inhabitants, that conjure marketplace notions of sex, fashion, and consumerism,
are all behind glass - untouchable, idealized plastic forms intended to incite
desire for at least the clothes they fill.
As this project has unfolded, I’ve come to observe and photograph mannequins of
several different configurations, located in windows and within merchandizing
displays. These models can vary demographically by neighborhood - even though
the stores could be selling essentially the same product, each has a unique style
and ambience which is reflected in their mannequins - the pose, color, and choice
of whether or not to use a realistic face versus abstract, or even headless
versions. The more expensive the clothing, the more rich-looking the mannequin
seems. Mannequins in windows tend to have faces and are more eye-catching,
whereas those within the retail environment appear utilitarian.
These silent salespeople were held in high regard during the surrealism movement
of the early 20th century, as these objects blurred the lines between animate and
inanimate, human and machine, the sexualized and the sexless, and ultimately life
and death.
Mannequins are simultaneously a commodity, a simulacra, an erotic object, and the
embodiment of the uncanny. I hope you enjoy these images, and you may view more
of my work on instagram @laurastorck under #philly_mannequins.
(Cover photo: #philly_mannequins, American Apparel, Center City)
