Recall

In 2007 Mattel, the world’s largest toy maker, recalled over a million toys manufactured in China.  The toys contained excessive levels of lead paint or small magnetic pieces. When more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnetic field within a child’s intestines could result in intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.  Children under the age of seven are highly sensitive to lead poisoning because their brains and bodies are still developing.  Contamination from the lead paint through licking or sucking toys can result in neurological problems, organ failure, encephalopathy or swelling of the brain, learning disabilities, brain damage, neuropsychological deficits, attention deficit disorder and hyperactive behavior.  After Bob Eckert, C.E.O. of Mattel, announced the recall of toys produced by Lee Der Industrial Company, China banned any further exports from Lee Der.  Three days later, co-owner of Lee Der Zhang Shuhong committed suicide.  The toxic paint used for the toys produced by Lee Der was provided by Zhang Shuhong’s best friend. 

“Recall”, a series of pigment based digital daguerreotypes, documents a selection of toys from the Mattel recall.  The series immortalizes the consumer objects that were so quickly discarded and forgotten. In addition to transforming the forgotten into highly fetishized objects, the work references the daguerreotype, a medium that was once often used for postmortem photography of children.  The original daguerreotype process itself was also highly toxic; however, authentic daguerreotypes continue to be widely collected today.