Increasing Mannequin Diversity in Museum Exhibitions to Address Social Equity

Abstract

For too long, museums have used thin, white mannequins as the standard for body surrogates in dress and textile exhibitions. This article explores some of the issues surrounding this practice and the message these objects may convey. As an actionable step towards social equity, it offers an alternative called the “Forest People” that aims to address issues of diversity and inclusion in curatorial and display practices. Inspired by tree diversity, the Forest People is a solution that draws from the past to create a new version of artists’ wooden lay figures. It replicates different wood colors and grains and can lend itself to presenting a variety of different races while still fading in the background and conveying an aesthetically pleasing and visually coherent ensemble. The article reflects on the development of a prototype for the exhibition Woven Identities: Ghanaian and Guatemalan Textiles in the Face of Globalization (2023) at the University of Alberta, and its effectiveness and potential developments.