The enchanting world of Tim Burton returns to Prague through September

An extensive exhibition featuring more than 600 works from the acclaimed filmmaker is now on display at Prague's Municipal House through the end of summer.

Jason Pirodsky

Written by Jason Pirodsky Published on 04.05.2024 14:24:00 (updated on 05.05.2024) Reading time: 2 minutes

The mesmerizing world of Tim Burton is now enchanting visitors at Prague's Municipal House, with an extensive exhibition featuring artwork and artifacts from the acclaimed filmmaker running through the end of September. The event represents a return to Prague for the acclaimed filmmaker after a well-received 2014 exhibition.

Renowned for crafting captivating modern fairy tales, Burton's imagination transcends dimensions and has produced some of Hollywood's most memorable films from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Edward Scissorhands, 1989's Batman, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The latest exhibition serves as a testament to Burton's lifelong dedication to his craft. From his early days behind the camera on 1980s classics like Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Beetlejuice, to recent endeavors like the remake of Dumbo and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Burton's visionary storytelling has left an indelible mark on popular culture.

Visitors to the exhibition can expect to delve into Burton's creative process through a myriad of artifacts from his movies. The immersive experience features a total of more than 600 items from Burton's career including storyboards, sketches, scene designs, puppets, photographs, and much more.

"Among the several hundred drawings, paintings, and collages you will also find puppets and film sets at the exhibition," says Kateřina Riley from Art Movement, the exhibition's organizer. "So you will see the Martians from Mars Attacks, the skeleton dancers from The Corpse Bride and the Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with other Burton sculptures of fantastic characters that have yet to be filmed."

The exhibition also offers a glimpse into the evolution of American pop phenomena, artistic waves, and fashion trends that have influenced Burton's work. From the eerie charm of Pop Surrealism to the Gothic allure of New Gothic, Burton's aesthetic has sparked countless creative movements worldwide.

The latest Prague exhibition represents just the third time that Burton's work has been exhibited in this fashion, following a debut at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 2008 and the previous Prague show in 2014.

"When I was approached by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2008 with an offer to host an exhibition of my artwork, I felt honored but also uncertain," Burton says about the exhibit. "I had already been urged by various people to exhibit my work somewhere. But I had never drawn or painted with the intention of showing it later. Fortunately, I didn't refuse then and I'm glad I didn’t."

"I was enchanted by the Prague stop 10 years ago, and now I'm looking forward to it in a similar way, although it will be in a different location. I fell in love with Prague for its gothic beauty, its fondness for puppets and marionettes, and of course its inhabitants - of which you are probably one. Thanks for the invitation! I hope you will enjoy the exhibition.”

In addition to the exhibition, Prague will play host to a musical adaptation of Beetlejuice at the Karlín Musical Theatre later this year. Running from November, the musical will coincide with the release of Burton's much-anticipated sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, slated to hit cinemas worldwide in September.

Tickets to the Tim Burton exhibition run from CZK 350 on Monday to 450 on Tuesday through Friday and CZK 500 for the weekend, with discounts for students, seniors, and family packages. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event's official website.

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