Dear Shaded Viewers,
Giulia Grillo, known professionally as Petite Doll, is an Italian photographic artist based in London who has carved out a unique niche in the world of surrealist photography. Her work is characterized by its ability to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, pushing the boundaries of conventional photography and challenging viewers’ perceptions. Grillo’s artistic process is deeply rooted in surrealism, which she defines as “the celebration of the unconscious within the creative process.” She transforms herself into various characters, ranging from unsettling to cute, to reflect contemporary society’s underlying fears and desires. Her inspiration comes from a wide range of sources, including traditional surrealist artists like Dalí and Magritte, as well as contemporary pop surrealist painters like Mark Ryden.
Despite the dreamlike quality of her images, Grillo’s work is primarily created in-camera, with minimal post-production. She meticulously crafts her sets and props using various materials, including polymer clay, SFX prosthetics, resin, and plaster. This hands-on approach gives her work a sense of materiality that she believes cannot be fully achieved digitally. Grillo’s photography often explores themes such as the interplay between beauty and the grotesque, vulnerability and loss of control, and the blurring of physical and virtual realities. Her work frequently features a melancholic undertone, which she uses to reflect the complexity of life and create a tension between nostalgia for the past and uncertainty about the future.
Grillo’s unique artistic vision has garnered significant recognition. She recently won the 1st Prize in the INPRNT Photography Award at the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize for her piece “The Claw Machine.” This haunting self-portrait exemplifies her ability to create viscerally feminine, deeply personal, and incredibly surreal imagery. As Petite Doll continues to evolve as an artist, she has expanded into video art and NFTs, further exploring the dreamlike dimensions of her created worlds. Through her work, Grillo not only challenges beauty standards but also prompts viewers to question the nature of reality itself, creating a unique and thought-provoking artistic experience.
Later,
Diane
