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Barbie takes flight: Wings of Art repurposes dolls for showcase, aims to raise S$100,000

[SINGAPORE] A Barbie wearing a white dress with a glittery tulle skirt, sporting wings with embellishments including pearls, florets and 'iced gem biscuits' made with polymer clay. It was one of the 60 winged dolls on display as part of the Wings of Art initiative being held at Marina Square from Wednesday (Jun 25) to Jul 1. The exhibit, called Flutter and Bloom: A Childhood Gem, was created by Shylyn Tan, a polymer clay artist and founder of The Shy Crafter, as well as her teenage son Isaac Chang, who has autism spectrum disorder. Flutter and Bloom: A Childhood Gem is made by polymer clay artist Shylyn Tan and her son Isaac Chang. PHOTO: PEACE OF ART The aim? To auction the doll – as well as the other winged Barbies on display – with the proceeds going towards the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts programme. Peace of Art, the charity organising Wings of Art, targets to raise S$100,000 in total – including donations from members of the public – from this initiative. Tan said that the use of the iced gem biscuits is a 'nostalgic nod to childhood joy', and that this was a 'good opportunity' to create artwork with her son. He contributed the florets used on the doll's wings and the accompanying pet dinosaur. 'The process was therapeutic. We find our calm in crafting together. For Isaac, it is also a way to express his thoughts to the world. He told me he wants to show everyone what people with autism can do, using clay art,' Tan said, adding that the teenager hopes to be a clay artist. Another Barbie on display was Bibik City Doll, created by Elizabeth Chan, co-founder of kueh business Kueh Ho Jiak. This doll, dressed in batik clothes and holding various types of kueh, represents Singapore's culture and identity. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Chan explained: 'She is a traditional, yet modern, kueh maker. She makes kueh to bring forth the culture of Singapore, reaching out to people with love through her (creations).' Bibik City Doll represents Singapore's culture and identity. PHOTO: LINDSAY WONG, BT The doll's wings are made out of feathers from the shuttlecocks used in chatek games, which children grew up playing, she added. The 60 unique winged Barbies have been repurposed by 60 local artists from Singapore. These dolls form part of a 60 metre-long Barbie runway. It is the longest one of its kind in the country and has secured a place in the Singapore Book of Records. The runway also comprises 1,000 more Barbie dolls that have been donated by toy manufacturer Mattel. From Jun 25 to Jul 1, members of the public can donate a minimum of S$75 to decorate their own winged Barbie using art materials at daily crafting sessions at Marina Square. These can be taken home as keepsakes or donated back to the runway. Sustainability Eunice Yeo, founder of Peace of Art, highlighted that the element of sustainability was 'very strong' throughout Wings of Art. Besides the repurposed Barbie dolls that would have otherwise gone to landfills, the runway is made out of upcycled crates, courtesy of Creuse, which upcycles discarded materials from supermarkets and logistics players. Furthermore, the materials at the crafting sessions have been upcycled from companies such as Songhe, which donated coloured rice, as well as Bynd Artisan, which donated leather pieces. '(These) materials show us that simple tools in our daily lives can be used in very creative ways. Sustainability is seeing the beauty in what we already have,' said Yeo. In addition to celebrating the 60th anniversary of Singapore's independence this year, Wings of Art pushes for diversity and inclusion. People who sign up for the sessions cannot choose which doll they get – all the dolls are numbered, and attendees receive them according to a number they are given. 'That is to show that we love every race, every shape – and we want to embrace everyone, despite the differences,' Yeo added. All the funds raised will go towards helping 200 underprivileged children living in rental flats access professional tutors, nutritious meals, an after-school programme and enrichment activities. Yeo said that Peace of Art has been supporting the same programme for the last five years, and has seen some beneficiaries grow up. For example, there is one who enrolled in a polytechnic, and another who is now captain of his school's hockey team. 'What we are able to do is maintain their ability to learn, grow and break out of the poverty cycle one day,' she noted. Due to Peace of Art's donations and efforts, Young Hearts has expanded from one centre to three in Yishun and Tampines. While the workshops will end on Jul 1, the Wings of Art exhibition and auction will continue at Marina Square from Jul 2 to 31.