The Ken Machine
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Position: Concept Artist, Director, Videographer, Photographer
Format: 3D-printed Installation & Video, 1’00”
This project is inspired by the film Barbie (2023) and my ongoing reflections on patriarchy. In Barbie Land, Ken exists solely for Barbie—he has no home, job, or sense of self, much like how women in the real world are objectified. This aligns with Simone de Beauvoir’s ideas in her book The Second Sex (1949) : femininity is a social construct designed to maintain male dominance. Beauvoir argues that women have historically been seen as inferior to men, fulfilling male needs, relying on external beauty standards for self-worth, and holding fewer rights and influence in society.
When Ken enters the real world, he quickly adapts to the privileges of a male-dominated society, but is rejected for lacking education and experience. After being abandoned by patriarchy, he returns to Barbie Land to create his own "Mojo dojo casa house," aspiring to the male elite image. However, without social status or material background, Ken cannot fit into contemporary patriarchy. In trying to seize power, he emphasizes male strength, defined by female approval. While he appears to oppress women, Ken remains objectified and a victim of the system, as his success is still judged by women.
In my work, I created a 3D-printed installation. The prototype of this installation is a "Fortune Cat," usually symbolizing wealth. Its appearance is very masculine, with a muscular image, while the internal structure is a coin pusher, constantly luring you to insert coins to push it, giving you a chance at success. This installation is a huge metaphor, distilling Ken's learning of patriarchy in the real world. You must have money, power, a masculine appearance, and other traits to be recognized by patriarchy. In modern patriarchy, the disguise becomes increasingly elaborate, like this Fortune Cat, which looks cute on the outside. The fact is that everyone is under the judgment of patriarchy, stripping people of their subjectivity. Everyone scrambles for this recognized high-score template, and everyone becomes an object of the system.
Format: 3D-printed Installation & Video, 1’00”
This project is inspired by the film Barbie (2023) and my ongoing reflections on patriarchy. In Barbie Land, Ken exists solely for Barbie—he has no home, job, or sense of self, much like how women in the real world are objectified. This aligns with Simone de Beauvoir’s ideas in her book The Second Sex (1949) : femininity is a social construct designed to maintain male dominance. Beauvoir argues that women have historically been seen as inferior to men, fulfilling male needs, relying on external beauty standards for self-worth, and holding fewer rights and influence in society.
When Ken enters the real world, he quickly adapts to the privileges of a male-dominated society, but is rejected for lacking education and experience. After being abandoned by patriarchy, he returns to Barbie Land to create his own "Mojo dojo casa house," aspiring to the male elite image. However, without social status or material background, Ken cannot fit into contemporary patriarchy. In trying to seize power, he emphasizes male strength, defined by female approval. While he appears to oppress women, Ken remains objectified and a victim of the system, as his success is still judged by women.
In my work, I created a 3D-printed installation. The prototype of this installation is a "Fortune Cat," usually symbolizing wealth. Its appearance is very masculine, with a muscular image, while the internal structure is a coin pusher, constantly luring you to insert coins to push it, giving you a chance at success. This installation is a huge metaphor, distilling Ken's learning of patriarchy in the real world. You must have money, power, a masculine appearance, and other traits to be recognized by patriarchy. In modern patriarchy, the disguise becomes increasingly elaborate, like this Fortune Cat, which looks cute on the outside. The fact is that everyone is under the judgment of patriarchy, stripping people of their subjectivity. Everyone scrambles for this recognized high-score template, and everyone becomes an object of the system.
vicccccccg@gmail.com