A brand-new exhibition has arrived in London this summer and it's completely dedicated to the evolution of Barbie.
Like so many people, I grew up with a collection of Barbies, they had a house, they had a car and somewhere in the toybox they had a casual boyfriend by the name of Ken.
Almost a year since the smash-hit Barbie film was released, directed by Greta Gerwig, London is currently playing host to an exhibition that’s all things Barbie.
Located on the lower ground floor of The Design Museum in Kensington, this new exhibition explores the evolution of the doll from its creation in 1959 by Ruth Handler up to the present day.
The exhibition begins with a look at the first ever Barbie Doll made in the 1950s, featuring her iconic striped swimsuit, which also made an appearance in the film modelled by Margot Robbie.
From there the exhibition features a wide collection of dolls, where you really get a sense of how Barbie and her look changed with the times, marked by her outfits and the roles she had.
The collection features Barbie in her “working roles” as a scientist, geologist, astronomer, doctor, nurse and even an astronaut, as well as the collection of Fashionista Barbies with the first being released in October 2009.
The exhibition also shows how Barbie diversified to include disabled Barbies, including the first wheelchair-user Barbie in 1997.
Spanning over seven decades the exhibition shows some of Barbie’s most important moments, from space exploration to the diversification of this doll to represent more children who have played with her.
But it’s not just Barbie, the exhibition also features a collection of Ken dolls over the years, along with other friends like Midge and Skipper – Barbie’s little sister.
Alongside the dolls there is also a collection of automobiles and houses, with the first cardboard house made by Ruth and her husband in 1962, evolving to the Barbie Dreamhouse design that was used in the film last year.
There were some that I even played with in my childhood, like the Dreamhouse brought out in 1999 with its battery-operated elevator..
During the exhibition I heard a lot of exclamations of “I had that one!” and “I remember this!”, and I was even able to see some of my mother’s dolls including Crystal Barbie and Crystal Ken, which were among some of the dolls in the 1980s
This exhibition is definitely worth a visit with a mother, aunt or grandmother, as it represents such a long timeframe that there are bound to be toys familiar to all generations.
Finally the exhibition also nods to the film, which is now Warner Bros' highest-grossing movie, making $1.446 billion.
The exhibition features a collection of costumes worn in the film, including Barbie’s colourful roller-skating outfit along with promotional movie posters and footage.
The exhibition also has several photo opportunities, including a life-sized Barbie box which you can have your photo taken in before you leave.
Whether you’re an avid Barbie fan or just want to take a trip down memory lane, this exhibition really showcases just how far Barbie has come over the decades and how she has evolved and continues to evolve to represent our changing society.
If you’re in want of something to do this summer, this exhibition is well worth a visit for all the family.
Tickets to enter Barbie The Exhibition are priced at £14.38 for adults and £7.19 for children with slots bookable online until the exhibition ends on February 23, 2025.
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