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Barbie’s new Virgin Mary look angers Catholics in Argentina

Art exhibition in Rosario to display some 33 Barbies and Kens this weekend, all of which could be considered offensive to many religions

Raquel Leon
Thursday 15 October 2015 20:56 BST
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There are some 33 Barbies and Kens going on display as part of the ‘Barbie, the Plastic Religion’ exhibition in Buenos Aires
There are some 33 Barbies and Kens going on display as part of the ‘Barbie, the Plastic Religion’ exhibition in Buenos Aires

Meet Virgin Barbie and Crucifixion Ken, the latest in a long – and often undistinguished – line of Catholic icons.

The pair are part of an exhibition created by two artists from Rosario, a city in central Argentina, that has caused outrage this week. There are some 33 Barbies and Kens going on display this weekend, all of which could be considered offensive to many religions. But in the home country of Pope Francis, the Catholic models have sparked fury.

Becoming the sainted Virgin is a new look for Barbie, despite boasting more than 150 careers on her CV – from registered nurse to rock star, vet to aerobics instructor. And Barbie and Ken are not limited to Catholicism in the exhibition – they appear also as Hindu deities.

Pool Paolini and Marianela Perelli’s exhibit, “Barbie, the Plastic Religion”, opens to the public in Buenos Aires on Saturday. The exhibit was originally scheduled for last year but was cancelled due to protests from religious and right-wing groups who considered the display offensive.

“The brother of a very important priest in Argentina, of the most important church in the country, approached us days before the scandal wanting to buy the Our Lady of Lujan to give to his brother,” Mr Paolini, 32, told The Independent.

“It was a beautiful display of love. Then, all Christians started going against us – that’s when all turned bad. At first, everyone was supportive.”

Ms Perelli added: “The good thing about this year is that last year we got a lot of threats regarding the destruction of our art, about bombs, threats against our safety. This year, nothing of the sort has happened. We are hoping and praying it stays like that.”

There are 10 Barbies dressed up as patron saints of South American countries, 15 Kens meant to show “15 ways of looking at Christ” and 10 small illuminated chapels.

“Barbie is a world icon; she has a special type of beauty,” said Ms Perelli. “Virgins have changed as time went by, in the renaissance they were portrayed as more robust and chubby, and in the middle ages they were skinnier with long necks.”

Mr Paolini added: “We did not intend to offend anyone, so we don’t understand why the Barbie was a problem. We wanted to blend the two biggest icons in the world, Barbie and religion.”

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