“The word normal always scared me.”
Posted by Barrett in Events, Latest News on November 20th, 2009
This Sunday marks the opening of an incredibly interesting exhibit at the Museum of Modern Arts, the subject of which is none other than Tim Burton.
On a scale of 1 to 10 of most interesting minds to delve into, I would place Burton at roughly a 97, right up there with Ozzy Osbourne and Gary Busey.
All kidding aside, this is quite an opportunity. The art in the exhibit spans all of Burton’s life and includes some of his early childhood drawings, student are, non-professional films, paintings, storyboards, sketchbooks, cartoons, costumes and puppets. These dozens of unrealized projects and never-before-seen pieces, which are incredibly personal and were never intended to be art pieces, will be on display at the Museum of Moder Arts (11 West 53 Street, New York City) from November 22nd, 2009 through April 26th, 2010.
Burton himself considers this an honor and is happy that the MoMA has asked to do an exhibit that doesn’t focus solely on his film career and rather on him and his art as a whole. He gave a behind the scenes interview discussing his feelings about the exhibit and providing a glimpse into his mind. Let me tell you, it is a fascinating place.
“When I was an animator at Disney, I was much weirder than I am now,” he admits. He then goes on to say how he felt very floaty at the time and if he wore stripped socks he would feel more grounded. When you combine statements like this with all of his phenomenal and twisted creations over the years you see the true definition of an eccentric genius.
For your viewing pleasure, the MoMA behind the scenes interview with Tim Burton:
The Department of Film is also presenting a series of films that have influenced and inspired Burton and his work over the years. They are calling this film series Tim Burton and the Lurid Beauty of Monsters and will be playing in conjunction to the exhibit from December 2nd, 2009 through April 26th, 2010. The series includes landmark films of stop-motion animation, Universal monsters, and German Expressionism.
“I loved the lurid beauty of these monster movies. They spoke to me. I didn’t understand the world, and these films were somehow symbolic of the way I felt.” ~Burton
Congratulations! You found the image of Fear Itself. To win a copy of Season One, just email us at contest@famousmonsters.com and tell us you found the Fear Itself image in our “The word normal always scared me” post. Hurry and enter while supplies last!
