In modern art, sex dolls are increasingly being used as symbols of power, highlighting the complex relationships between control, objectification, and desire. Traditionally, erotic art has often depicted the human body as an object of sexual desire, with power dynamics often portrayed through gendered representations. The sex doll, however, disrupts these traditional depictions by embodying both the desire for control and the objectification of the human body in a singular, lifeless form.
The sex doll becomes a symbol of power not through its physical form but through its role in the relationship between artist, viewer, and subject. Its lack of agency or voice represents the ultimate form of objectification, forcing a direct confrontation with the ways in which people, particularly women, are reduced to mere objects of desire. However, its very existence as a highly crafted, customizable, and often hyper-realistic figure can also be seen as a symbol of dominance—illustrating how the ideals of beauty and sexuality can be manipulated and controlled for the gratification of others.
In many works of modern art, sex dolls serve as metaphors for the commodification of bodies and the ways in which power is exerted through the control of physical representation. By using these dolls in their work, artists are able to challenge traditional power structures and confront uncomfortable truths about societal control, sexualization, and the ways in which people are objectified in both the real world and the realm of art.