Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar

Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar, Kaida Gallery 

When I visited Paola Germar’s art exhibit last March, entitled “Pay Per Doll”, I had flashbacks of one of Disney’s 1929 classic animated shorts “The Skeleton Dance” and the artistic genre Dance of Death, also called Danse Macabre. Her work is, to me, is a contemporary art manifestation of the universality of death. The Dance of Death unites all.  Much like the medieval art movement, “The Danse Macabre”, “Pay Per Doll” consists of the personification of the dead, a cold dose of reality that we all will someday dance to the closing symphony of life.

Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar, Kaida Gallery 

Works such as these were created to remind us of the fragility of life. As a member of a clan that traditionally became doctors, Paola was probably exposed to this stark reality at a very young age. However, in contrast to the usual dark and somber colors used by past artists in their depiction of the final dance, Paola attacks the genre with a bright palette of colors. Another feature of Paola’s exhibit is that viewers can interact with her creations by dressing up the skeletons with various articles of “clothing”.

Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar, Kaida Gallery 

Today, the life expectancy of the average human being far exceeds our counterparts’ from four hundred years ago. The hash tag #yolo, “You Only Live Once” is a powerful four word statement. We, as a society, have come to the point where we know for a fact, and have come to accept, that death will come for us at any time.

Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar, Kaida Gallery 

As historians put it, we now live in an age of cynicism  “Modern” society has existed for more about 2000 years, but it is only in the 1980’s, more specifically during the cold war, that we have attained the ability to destroy all of humanity through weapons of mass destruction. Literally, we can end it all anytime we want.

Pay Per Doll Art Exhibit by Paola Germar, Kaida Gallery 

So what matters most in life is not to look forward to the final chapter, it is to enjoy the ride while we are here to enjoy it. As we should view it, the dance of the dead has been inverted to become the dance of life. We all know the inevitable. We all know what comes at the end. Why not enjoy the ride in an explosion of color, laughter, and happiness while we can?

"Pay Per Doll"
A Solo Exhibition by Paola Germar
March 2015

A pleasing sight for the eyes of many whose interest is focused on the brandished appearance of females, and these prying eyes are hypocritical in a sense that they feast on fanciful costumes that are made up to tease the senses. Stitched up sequins and cinched up waists provide much space for imagination. 

The degradation of a woman in society has created a new value on herself as a person. This self-imposed object only doubles in value when she flashes any patch of skin. 

The skin of women is paper thin. It is carefully crafted and cut into whatever shape it needs to be. Artificial, attractive, and altruistic, everything a woman may be. Both prim and proper yet sexy and spirited, a double standard that keeps women self-destructive.

The glitz or glamour masks a woman's identity with flashing lights and glowing faces. This is the innocence of a woman covered by money and desire. 

Read more about the Art Exhibit by Paola Germar 

Manila Bulletin Feature 

Their Lovely Bones by Sol Vanzi 

Keeping it real.- PJV