Reen Barrera’s Expressive ‘Ohlala’ Characters Evoke Emotions and Empowerment
All images courtesy of Reen Barrera, shared with permission
Reen Barrera’s Expressive ‘Ohlala’ Characters Evoke Emotions and Empowerment
January 23, 2025
Art
Kate Mothes
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Sporting colorful garments and richly patterned faces, Reen Barrera’s doll sculptures (previously) evoke an expressive, make-believe world. Often dressed in striped tops and hand-stitched hoods with animalistic ears, his imaginative Ohlala characters represent the universality of human emotions while emphasizing every individual’s unique qualities.
Barrera creates the sculptures from wood and patchwork textiles, and he also makes paintings depicting Ohlala figures in pensive moments or expressing a sense of empowerment. Find his work at Art Central Hong Kong in March, and see more on his website and Instagram.
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