Ceci n'est pas (seulement) une poupée

We at Dolldom are of the opinion that there is nothing but pleasure in being surrounded by dolls. And while many enjoy living, cooking, shaving, dressing up and sleeping in the company of their dolls, others prefer to devote a separate space that functions as a realm of dolly delight.

But when codes are challenged and, as a result, broken, our consciousness evolves and appreciation for expression via the doll form augments. For it is not everyday that the dollector can combine doll and décor in a harmoniously seamless manner. 

Hvala Dolls' Mi is such a code breaker. Although very much a doll, Mi is designed to express a message of universal appeal: humanity (as young as it is) is being studied by an older (more experienced) form of intelligence. Mi is an intergalactic traveler who with every OOAK iteration brings an invitation to ponder such an illuminating and humbling idea. 

In this Dolldom entry, two Mi dolls hang out among a collection of vases. Two are Puerto Rican ceramic vessels designed to evoke the Cemí of Taíno people in the Caribbean. The third is a Jonathan Adler minimalist creature. As if trying to be incognito, the Mi and the vases function as observers that we, in turn, observe, perhaps completing a circle. But is it truly complete when, in the background, we discover eyes watching us watching Mi?   

Visit Mi by Hvala Dolls

Mi and their clothing by Hvala Dolls

Colorama

Vibrant, intense, saturated, alive. When selecting textiles for her designs, PJ Nox, creator behind the Hvala Dolls label, takes the four previous modifiers to heart. With overflowing creativity and an uncanny ability to gauge the emotional impact that clothing and color can have, Nox - like all visionaries do - produces styles of an immense power to inspire. 

Dolldom's Luula, a OOAK NuminaDoll Salix, styled, modeled in, and directed this production of daringly poetic imagery, that, not unlike religious iconography, moves us past the banality of mere fashion. 

Hvala Dolls









Hvala Dolls

Calling Occupants

Back in the 1960s, when the prospect of space exploration filled puerile imaginations with the immensity of the universe, toy manufacturers did not take long to produce fanciful lines that brought extraterrestrial life forms to the hands of thunderstruck tots. In 1967, the Mini-Martians, by Swedlin and sold exclusively at Sears, made their appearance.

In1969, Mattel debuted the Kozmic Kiddles...

Nostalgia feeds the heart and any grown-up 60s kid still entertains the thought of having their very own close-encounter of the third kind. Which is why, with Hvala Dolls' Mi  a new space odyssey has begun!

 

PJ Nox, creator of Hvala Dolls and Mi explains: "Mi is an 11-inch collectible art doll whose mission it is to explore the far reaches of identity (human and otherwise) in a seriously playful manner. Mi (pronounced Mee) is made of laser-sintered nylon with joints at the neck, shoulders and hips. Mi is strung, with ball joints at the shoulder that enable the arms to rotate front to back and sideways. Legs and head have basic rotation. Mi’s head is removable, making it easy to swap different styles you might collect. The doll can stand on its own."

Mi immediately struck a chord with Dolldom and became a beloved denizen, albeit one who is most often spotted taking notes on our behavior, calibrating intergalactic travel instruments, and measuring spatial options for traversable wormholes, all while being quite chic in their OOAK clothing, also by Hvala Dolls. 

For those interested in connecting with Mi, the next preorder is scheduled to start in November. Those who are interested can contact Nox now through Instagram, or at  hvaladolls@gmail.com.

Hvala Dolls Boutique 

Hvala Dolls Instagram 

Mi Art Doll's Official Site  

Challenging the Norm: the Art of Hvala

Sometimes, the world surrounds us with vapidness. Repetition. Apathy. And worse yet, the onslaught of commercialism. Thus, it's thoroughly refreshing when in the world of fashion dolls, one encounters a true revolutionary, one who lives, designs, and creates by her passionate beliefs. PJ Nox of Hvala is that artist. The multi-talented Nox not only sews; she, among other things, illustrates, designs jewelry, embroiders, and most recently is manufacturing a doll named Mi, The Doll Who Has Nothing. 

Nox explains: "Copying the runway can be entertaining, but it does not have to be the norm in any way. Dolls should not and can not be implicated in the pain of aspiring to wealth, sexual prowess and aesthetic perfection in the way humans have been trained by the consumerist industries to do.

If I am thinking about these playfully-clothed coded-as-male or coded-as-female dolls carrying a message, I want it to be a message of freedom, experimentation and joy and not a message of spite. Expressing yourself non-normatively is always radical, but you cannot in your heart of hearts spend life thinking you are the odd one out fighting for acceptance. This attitude that is imposed on marginalized people creates doubt and fear, encouraging them to believe their request for basic respect is radical. By ourselves, not in relation to society, we have to commune with the thought that cosmically we are worthy, and not a fighter against the machine.

I have been thinking about another layer of intention in this collection. I would love if these pieces would aid in affirming the playfulness and creativity of miniature play, and help lessen the proclivity for exclusive precision-based and price tag-oriented attitudes in the doll world.

I am making these garments with attention to quality, but not aspiring to human principles of construction. Some of the items totally engulf the subject, reaffirming its doll-ness. I think that would be a very interesting approach to human dressing, as well: having the potential to simultaneously be at symbiotic peace with one's garb while being engulfed by it." 

Dolldom is lucky to be able to collaborate with Nox and, in so doing, to reflect deeply on the possibilities of self-expression in our doll play. For this fabulous feature, ball-jointed dolls by NuminaDoll and JAMIEshow Doll engage with Nox's designs in liberating play where garment and character fuse to create one harmonious entity.

HvalaDolls

HvalaWorld

Mi

Credits: 

All clothing by HvalaDolls

Wigs by Chewin, NuminaDoll, and JAMIEshow

Red bead necklace by Exsyntrik

Hvala!

 What's a doll to wear? The sempiternal question is best answered with this fab trio of photos of Sylvain by Julian Kalinowski wearing the inspired designs of Hvala Dolls by PJ Nox. There is new energy in the air with Hvala Doll's aesthetic! 

Nox's designs for the 1/4 set, will be featured in FDQ's Holiday 2020 issue - keep your eyes out for it.

In the meantime, visit Hvala Dolls' boutique on Etsy.