From Trash to Totems: my Wonder Dolls lab

April and May have been incredibly intense months—filled with projects, propelling energy, and a profound shift that deeply shook my perspective. It felt like the ultimate confirmation of a choice I made only in January of this year: to become a full-time artist.

A few months ago, I received an email from D., asking if we could meet so I could tell her more about my projects and vision. We ended up chatting in a kind of living room under a tree—yes, the tree was literally inside the room. That was the spark for a beautiful collaboration that led me to present my workshop, "The Wonder Dolls Lab," for the very first time at the Volkskundemuseum.

From Trash to Totems: The Core of the Lab

To understand the Wonder Dolls Lab, you have to understand where it begins: literally with trash.

Plastic containers, discarded cardboard, fabric scraps, offcuts, and a myriad of unusual, salvaged materials. There is a radical, poetic power in starting from what has been rejected.

The process of building these Dolls is an act of defiance: it is about learning to create whole worlds where the outside world sees absolutely nothing left.

For me, this workshop is profoundly important because it creates a safe container to reconnect with our pure, untamed energy—our inner child.

I was on an emotional roller coaster before it started. I was anxious, mainly because I didn't know which language I should speak to the audience—English or German? But above all, I kept wondering: will it be okay? I am still so new here in Vienna. Will people even book a spot?

Well, not only did both dates completely sell out, but more people showed up than expected.

It was an immense joy to finally open my world to the community; to lead adults to see the world a bit like I see it, or how I wish it were.

What surprised me the most was seeing how everyone—regardless of age, nationality, or background—became completely immersed in a primitive form of creativity. There was no background music, no urge to fill the silences with empty words. Everyone, just like children do, dove deep into their own inner worlds, showing a boundless, fresh, and living creativity.

The greatest emotion, however, came from the feedback I received after the ritual:

• S. thanked me because she hadn't been able to unblock her creativity since she was 12. For the first time in a long time, she felt free.

• With A., a spontaneous friendship was born. We share a passion for animism, and the totems created a sudden harmony between two souls who, until then, were total strangers.

• With J., a beautiful bond of mutual emotional and artistic support is unfolding.

• L. was deeply moved and proud of me.

• S. told me he never thought of himself as creative, and making something so unconventional made him feel incredibly good.

• V. and E. said they had so much fun and cannot wait to do something like this again.

• O. told me with pride that this city needs me, and that people need my guidance to feel free (I'm not gonna lie, I teared up).

• M. was super happy to have met me and follows my updates everywhere.

Being able to bring my seed of healing to others is what makes me feel most alive. And this is just the beginning. I want to take the Wonder Dolls Lab as far as possible. My dream now is to bring this project into schools. I want to open this space to children and see what happens when the perspective shifts—to see how they, in their own unique and different way, can teach us how to look at the world.

What’s Cooking: "Holy Shit" & The Upcoming Zine

While I process all this beauty, the studio has kept vibrating.

Right on the heels of the Wonder dolls lab came Holy Shit: A 24h Totemic Ritual—a radical and visceral experience that pushed us to explore the boundaries of control and collective surrender.

I’ve already been taking this workshop on the road, and I will be sharing more about its journey soon.

In the meantime, I am currently working on a limited-edition Zine to archive those intensive 24 hours, and I can’t wait to finally release it this coming July. 

Support the Journey ☕

As you know, I made the leap to become a full-time artist this January. If you believe in my vision, and you’d like to support my independent research you can now buy me a coffee on my Ko-fi page.

Every little bit helps keep this creative engine running.

Support my work on ko-fi.com/surreal_su

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this ecosystem of repair, play, and wonder.

With love,

Su

Ph © Lorenzo Belmonte & Paul Pibernig