Page 11 - IAV Digital Magazine #599

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Simulated Babies Made By Singapore Mother Provide Comfort, Joy And Questions
By Yating Yangin in Beijing
A 50-year-old mother of four in Singapore has captured global attention by painting lifelike artificial dolls that sell for up to US$6,000 each.
Artist Andrea Lee developed a passion for painting during childhood, but set aside her dreams to prioritize work and family responsibilities.
In 2021, after her youngest child had grown up, she decid- ed to attend a “reborn” doll work- shop to revisit her
artistic aspirations.
Sharing her skills online, she began receiving enquiries from collectors inter- ested in buying her dolls, so she set up a website to sell her creations.
The “reborn” dolls are made of silicone or vinyl and are meticu- lously crafted to mimic the appear- ance and texture of real babies.
The collaborative process involves a sculptor making the doll then handing it over to Andrea for painting to bring it to
life.
She applies a base coat to ensure the paint will not fade, then “bakes” the doll in an oven to secure the first layer.
The detailed painting and hair implanting are challenging and time-consuming processes.
It can take three to six weeks to create lifelike skin color while implanting each strand of hair by hand can take up to 40 hours.
After completing the dolls, Lee dresses
them in clothes she buys from baby shops, uploads pho- tos to her website, and lists them for sale.
She gives each doll a special name and provides details such as height and price.
She told Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia: “When I’m making the dolls, I enjoy the process. Being able to bring life to a doll through your art and colours is really rewarding to me.”
Her “reborn” babies can sell for as much as US$6,000, and she sells about 26 dolls a year. Buyers come from all over the world.
Jessica Wu, a doll collector who bought a “baby” called Lillie, said: “The babies she posts usually get sold in one or two days.
“So when I saw Lillie she was just a work in progress. In an update Andrea post- ed, I quickly made a reservation. I bought her for about S$2,500 (US$1,900).
“The baby is very realistic – her hair,
eyebrows, nails, and rosy face. Her skin looks like a real baby’s. When I wake up, I kiss her, touch her head, and tell her I am going to work. Sometimes I put her on my stomach to sleep,” she said.
Lee believes the reborn dolls are not just works of art but also provide thera- peutic benefits, bring- ing collectors a sense of being a mother.
“The first time I held a reborn baby, it was very emotional for me. I was crying, but it was tears of joy. It was really comforting, and it brought back so many wonderful memories I had as a young mother. It’s like holding a newborn baby all over again,” she said.
On her Instagram, fol- lowers frequently express their admira- tion for her work.
“Oh, what a beautiful display. Your art is lovely,” one person said.
“Does it poo? I want a realistic doll too,” another said.
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