In 2007, Canadian artist Heather Benning completed work on the transformation of an abandoned farmhouse in Sinclair, Manitoba. After many months of restoration, she converted the donated building into a life-size dollhouse. The entire backside of the structure was removed and replaced with plexiglass, enabling visitors to peer inside the re-imagined two-storey, five-room house. “By sealing the house and keeping the audience at a remove,” says Benning, “viewers were forced to take note of what generates a sense of home.”
Colour plays a considerable role in attracting one to The Dollhouse project. During the demolition of the building, the uncovering of layers of wallpaper and house paint greatly informed the final colour palette. “All the colour and wallpaper choices were cheerful in nature, Heather explains, “I thought because I was dealing with a dark topic, contemplative and somewhat somber, the juxtaposition of the pleasant colours could work to my benefit.” The Dollhouse’s palette of lemon yellow, cherry blossom pink, baby blue and pistachio green harken back to the 1950s – a range of pastels aiming to comfort a post World War II population. These soft hues were influenced by Scandinavian design and extended beyond house paint into appliances, furniture, fabrics and clothing. Discussions about colour with her mother and older women from the neighbourhood helped Heather affirm her final selection.
Benning was also deliberate about the items she incorporated into the rooms. Salvaged furniture from other abandoned buildings, local auction bargains and donations from friends and enthusiastic community residents decorated the interior spaces. “From the blankets, to the paintings, to the footstool and books – colour and content was considered when placing the objects,” she adds. Porcelain figurines, a baking powder tin, flower-printed glassware and a wall clock inject welcomed punctuation to each environment.
“The Dollhouse,” says Heather, “aims to speak to our profound desire for re-connection with place.” Most people are unaware of how colour can connect us to our past. You can be roaming through an antique store when suddenly a vintage burgundy teapot or a gold satin throw pillow will conjure memories of long-ago visits to a grandparents’ house. We subconsciously file these colour associations away, only to have them re-awakened when artists, like Heather Benning, remind us of their deep-rooted significance.
Photos provided by Heather Benning