Behind Marlene

Marlene is a photo I ideated and created for the ‘Walls of Fame’ series, where iconic artworks are reimagined through a contemporary perspective. 

In this photo, I interpreted Marlene Dietrich’s pose in ‘Shanghai Express’ by Don English. Emulating the iconic actress’s posture, which conveys strength and determination, I used a male doll to symbolise diversity and challenge traditional gender roles. Using a play toy as the subject not only adds a whimsical element but also invites viewers to reconsider traditional notions of art and identity through a familiar, yet unexpected medium.

In the above images, there is Marlene Dietrich’s photo in ‘Shanghai Express’ by Don English on the left, and my reinterpretation on the right.

In these photos, I am preparing the set for Marlene. To recreate the iconic pose of the original photo, I created the body of the doll with a 3D modelling program, printed it with a 3D printer, and then painted it. The head of the doll is from a vintage 70s male doll, which was perfect for this role as it has long blonde hair. Then, I had fun finding the right clothes and, of course, taking the actual picture while creating the set and lighting.

Marlene is available as a limited edition print.
Buy Marlene