Barbie exhibition on violence against women removed after complaints

Artist apologises to anyone that found her work 'uncomfortable'

An art exhibition featuring images of Barbie dolls being treated like domestic violence victims has been removed from an art gallery's window following a string of complaints.

The work features the doll being kicked by an abusive partner and giving birth to an unwanted child, among a number of other images.

Created by artist Lidia Lidia, the directors of the Pineapple Black gallery in Middlesbrough where it is featured, said they hoped it would raise awareness of violence against women.

However, they made the decision to move it from the window after a number of passers-by complained about the "graphic content" and the fact that it was visible to young children.

Co-directors, Bobby Benjamin and Stephen Irving, admitted they had anticipated complaints about the work.

"For us the main thing was that we did not want to betray the artist and compromise her version,” Mr Benjamin said. “I think that we as a society do push these issues to the back and bury them, people don’t want to talk about these things because then you have to admit that they are happening.

“That is always what we wanted the exhibition to do – to put it in people’s faces. Maybe it isn’t our place to provoke that conversation, but somebody had to.”

The exhibition was first installed on 10 April and was removed from the gallery's window eight days later.

However, Mr Benjamin has confirmed that the exhibition will remain on display until 11 May.

Artist Lidia Lidia apologised to anyone that found her work “uncomfortable”, on the gallery's Facebook page.

“I am totally aware that my work is provocative and sometimes disturbing, but I strongly believe that art nowadays is one of the most powerful tools for shaping a fair and equal society and strong messages are often necessary to have some sort of reaction,” she wrote. “I am aware that it can be difficult to face talking with some very young children, but it is never too early to educate them, and we should keep in mind that the majority of victims of every sort of violence are children.

“I like to call myself an artivist more than artist, because I do political art with the hope of building awareness, and in this path, I am realising that the ultimate act of activism is to be an educator: it is never too early or too late to educate human beings to change their and other people’s lives."

For confidential support with domestic violence, you can contact domestic violence charity Refuge on its free 24-hour helpline by calling 0808 2000 247.