Spooky puppets, unique costumes and childhood drawings characteristic in The World of Tim Burton, an exhibition at London’s Design Museum charting 50 years of the American filmmaker’s work.
Opening at the moment, the exhibition of over 600 objects provides a glimpse into the thoughts of director and animator Burton, whose distinctively uncanny movies embody the 1990 Edward Scissorhands and the 2007 Sweeny Todd.
The Design Museum exhibition is unfold throughout a collection of devoted rooms that unpack Burton’s work and inspirations “via the lens of design”, in line with curator Maria McLintock.
Born in 1958 within the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank, Burton is famend for his gothic films that are likely to mix depictions of the true world with imaginary universes.
The primary room of the exhibition comprises rows of vibrant show items formed like homes that nod to the director’s suburban childhood – the banality of which was an enormous affect on Burton’s creativity, in line with McLintock.
“He takes these very archetypal, suburban terrains and turns them on their head, making them eerie,” the curator instructed Dezeen throughout a tour of the exhibition.
An unlimited assortment of early drawings completed in pen, ink and pencil line the house-shaped constructions, that includes recurring Burton characters together with the skeleton Jack Skellington, which might later star in The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas.
Additionally on show is a painted metallic signal emblazoned with the phrases “crush litter” – the younger Burton’s successful entry to an area design competitors for Burbank’s refuse assortment autos from 1973.
“Tim Burton is in the beginning an artist, and I believe that is what makes him a extremely attention-grabbing particular person and a singular director,” McLintock stated.
Shifting via the exhibition, guests can discover low-lit plinths displaying props from a spread of Burton movies. Among the many assortment are puppets from the 2005 stop-motion animation Corpse Bride, together with the spindly, blue-haired bride herself.
“The bride’s costume was like a puppet in itself,” stated puppet-maker and long-term collaborator Ian Mackinnon of the manufacturing firm Mackinnon & Saunders.
“It was silk embedded with silicone and wires. If you see her dancing within the forest, her veil following the wind, it seems to be prefer it’s the lightest, most delicate material however it’s none of these issues.”
Life-size costumes additionally characteristic within the present, reminiscent of a red-and-black silk and tulle costume from Burton’s 2010 model of Alice in Wonderland, created by costume designer and frequent collaborator Colleen Atwood.
Guests can stroll via a intentionally disorientating hall characterised by angled door frames and asymmetrical black-and-white chequered flooring, which nods to Burton’s 1988 basic Beetlejuice in addition to the movie’s not too long ago launched sequel.
Three of the director’s towering metal sculptures line the hall, depicting otherworldly characters with outsized, spiky jaws and twiggy arms – just like these seen in his early drawings.
There may be additionally a bit devoted to Burton’s work past movie – from pictures initiatives to vogue and music video collaborations.
An immersive soundscape of 300 audio samples performs all through the area, designed for the exhibition by composer Tomi Rose.
“Every of the soundtracks straight responds to the tales of every of the rooms,” defined McLintock.
The World of Tim Burton is an tailored iteration of a travelling exhibition of the identical title, which has visited 14 cities in 11 international locations since 2014. London’s Design Museum is the present’s final location earlier than it concludes indefinitely.
“It is a unusual factor to place 50 years of artwork and your life on view for everybody to see, particularly when that was by no means the unique goal,” stated Burton. “Prior to now, I’ve resisted having the exhibition in London.”
“Nonetheless, collaborating with the Design Museum for this last cease was the proper selection,” he added. “They perceive the artwork, and with the chance to adapt the present and spotlight the best way design interacts with the works, I have been capable of view all of it via an thrilling new lens.”
London’s Design Museum is understood for internet hosting exhibitions that discover standard tradition via the lens of design.
An exhibition devoted to Barbie dolls and Dreamhouses can be presently on show on the museum, whereas earlier reveals dove into sneaker tradition and the movies of director Stanley Kubrick.
The pictures is by Matt Crossick, courtesy of the Design Museum.
The World of Tim Burton takes place from 25 October 2024 to 21 April 2025 at The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington Excessive Road, London W8 6AG, UK. See Dezeen Occasions Information for extra structure and design occasions around the globe.
