WorkArt & Culture

Iconic photographs recreated using nothing but Play-Doh

Using only a chopping board, a highball glass as a rolling pin and a blunt IKEA knife, artist Eleanor Macnair loves to take Play-Doh and recreate photographs – taking inspiration from the incredibly iconic to the lesser known imagery of the world.

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All images courtesy of Eleanor Macnair

All images courtesy of Eleanor Macnair

The ongoing project – Photographs Rendered in Play-Doh – began on a whim in 2013 and quickly became an internet smash as Macnair shared her plasticine portrayals on social media. Ironically, as her work was viewed by hundreds of thousands of people, all over the world, she actually wanted to encourage people to slow down and re-engage with familiar photographs and discover new ones.

She explains: "On the surface, photographs can condense complex ideas and present them in a straightforward visual language. I take this a step further and pare down to almost nothing, just form and colour. They are what they are. Photographs Rendered in Play-Doh. It's my strange tribute to photography."

If you want to discover her work in the flesh, then go visit London's Atlas Gallery from 2 October until 21 November 2015 where she'll be exhibiting her series for the first time. Find out more at www.atlasgallery.com.

Play-Doh recreation of a figure lying beneath green grass with purple berries, crafted by Eleanor Macnair
Play-Doh sculpture of a figure with black dreadlocks, bold magenta lips, white eye details and a colourful patterned red garment
Play-Doh figure with red bob haircut and blue eyes in green dress standing against turquoise wall beside white door frame with red flowers and blue object on windowsill
Sculptured Play-Doh head with bright orange hair, turquoise eyes and pink lips against a green background, by Eleanor Macnair
Two identical Play-Doh dolls with black fringe hair and magenta lips wearing red coats with black spots, holding hands against a bright blue background with a white architectural doorway behind them
Vibrant Play-Doh sculpture of a face with bright blue hair, one green and one blue eye, magenta lips, and asymmetrical geometric features against a colourful pixelated background.
Play-Doh figure of a blonde woman in a red jacket and black skirt against a yellow brick wall decorated with green vines and purple berries
Stylised Play-Doh figure with turquoise wrapped head, bold red lips and striking eyes, wearing a red jacket with yellow collar and blue textured lower body against a red background
Play-Doh sculptured figure with black tangled hair, striking green eyeshadow and magenta lips, wearing a bright green shirt
Two googly-eyed Play-Doh sculptures with black lashes, colourful irises and drooping white spheres, resembling expressive cartoon eyes on a neutral background
Play-Doh figure wearing dark sunglasses and white suit jacket, holding a purple flower against a bright yellow background scattered with red leaf shapes
Play-Doh figure with bright yellow hair, magenta lips and grey skin wearing a green jacket and blue trousers, holding a small white dog against a textured blue background
Play-Doh figure of a person wearing a yellow cap, red and white polka dot shirt and blue shorts, standing against a background of brown tree trunks and green foliage
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