HELLO DOLLIES

There is something at once terrifying and comforting about the doll. Many women will have fond memories of their childhood friends, keeping them to hand down to daughters perhaps. Others might share a more complex relationship, such as the famous (and childless) patron of the arts Sunday Reed, whose doll Gethsemane served as inspiration for Penrith Regional Gallery’s latest show Hello Dollies. Reed purportedly considered the doll (named after the garden of betrayal in which Jesus was arrested) a child, including reports about its fluctuating health and temper in letters to friends.

The collection of works to feature in Hello Dollies all revolve around the often-complicated emotions, images, and experiences attached to the doll. Highlights include photographs and a video work from Destiny Deacon, a characteristically funny and incisive Tracey Moffatt image, a monstrous parody of a sex doll named SUCKA by Deborah Kelly, painstakingly executed line drawings from a Matt Coyle comic, Alasdair Macintyre’s satirical toy models of famous artworks, and Joan Ross’ moody and evocative photo triptych. The exhibition in the smaller gallery adjoining the main space, sculptor Jane Lennon’s colourful fantasy homescape made entirely of reused paper is also well worth a look. If you haven’t made the trip out to the very picturesque Penrith Regional Gallery yet, now could just be the time to do it.

Until Apr 22, Penrith Regional Gallery, 86 River Rd, Emu Plains, free, 4735 1100, penrithregionalgallery.org