Tim Burton Exhibition at ACMI & Federation Square
*A Nuffnang Sponsored post*
Some days are unforgettable. Unforgettable in the sense that you know you’ll be talking about them for years to come and that little snippets of that moment will colour decisions you make in the future. Last Thursday was one of those days.
Thanks to Nuffnang and Federation Square, I was given the opportunity to experience the Tim Burton Exhibition at ACMI. When they emailed to ask if I’d like to go, my response was only one word; “yes!” followed by many gratuitous exclamation marks. Since my very first Beetlejuice Burton moment, I’ve been hooked on the colour, the style, the twisted carnival sensibilities of his productions.
So I raced around prepping up for the big night and (sadly) can only tell you what I wore as the greatest tragedy of the evening was only to be discovered the next day. Alicia and I had the unique opportunity to photograph some of the exhibition including posing with our favourite pieces, only to find that every single image was corrupted on the card! (One of those moments when you want to stab yourself in the eye with a fork.) So for those of you that care, I wore a black and charcoal striped hobble skirt over a tightly laced corset, black silk chiffon blouse and a midnight blue velvet tailcoat with silver buttons. Please engage imagination here.
Arriving at Federation Square as dusk becomes dark was an experience to behold. The pink cobbled pavement wends beneath your heels and carries you into the centre . There are students sitting close, chatting in plumes of smoke. Suit clad lads laughing over beer as a tall blonde flicks her hair and takes their order. A crowd begins to gather in the shadow on the big screen with lap rugs and steaming coffee in paper cups, awaiting the upcoming streaming of Tim Burton’s Materslass. During Winter they are hosting a Solar Equation; a huge representation of a glowing pulsing sun, hovering in the darkness. I stood beneath it feeling like an extra in Dr. Who and wondering at the instant sense of community it created, as a crowd gathered beneath to take pictures and talk about the warm orange glow. I even videoed a little bit Fed Square Solar Equation
I had a quick jaunt around the ACMI store prior to meeting our chaperone, and found some serious reasons to take your credit card along, as they had a fantastic collection of Burton books and toys including Oyster Boy and Stainboy!
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Upon meeting our delightful ACMI host we were invited to one of the most coveted and thrilling highlights of the exhibition – The Masterclass with Tim Burton! I don’t think I’ve ever sat so close to the edge of my seat for a full hour and a half. It was a moment where I tried to force my brain into record mode and hung on to every word, in spite of the waves of goose bumps threatening to topple me from my chair.
Heading into the exhibition in a haze of post-Burton chat honeymoon, gave the whole experience the sense of the historical and I knew then that this was something I’d never forget. Descending the stair case in a wash of scarlet lights, I turned to see one of the first things that had my heart in a handgrip. The full sized garden topiary from Edward Scissor hands. I was glad to be there in company and half dark or otherwise the tear that sprang to my eye would have made it into a complete stream. For me, Edward Scissor Hands was a particularly powerful film, so to come face to face with such a stunning and beautiful symbol was almost a bit much. However, being the professional I am, I composed myself and went about the business of taking it all in so I can tell you about it now.
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I don’t wish to spoil the magic of the exhibition so I won’t tell you all the surprises and highlights, but I have to tell you that there is something so extraordinarily inspiring about this exhibition. Seeing the evolution not only of Tim’s work, but of the man himself- his life, his journey both emotionally and professionally, leaves you wanting to sketch till daybreak. You don’t need to have an artistic bone in your body to appreciate Tim’s work, he’ll provide plenty of bones for you! (Ha!) It is music, song, touch, tears, dreams and nightmares. It is all those parts of yourself that exist to give you a unique sense of self, and as such you’ll each take something different away from your experience.
Overwhelmingly, the first thing I wanted to do was arrange a date to take my daughters back to see it for themselves. At nearly three and just turned six, they already appreciate the humour, the dark and light, the love and tragedy of a Burton film. (Nightmare before Christmas gets great airplay at my house). It may be difficult to stop them from wanting to touch and feel, but the pay off in feeding their imaginations and letting them walk into a living fantasy is too great to deny them that opportunity.
To top off this amazing experience was a moment in which many of you will kick me over. Actually meeting Tim Burton and having not one memorable thing to say! I don’t often have fan girl moments, but this was something else. Other than saying something like, “I’m honoured”, was about as far as I got, as my brain lit up like a firecracker at the momentousness of it all. In fact, I am going in again tomorrow! I took a little video snippet inside the Burton club to share with you, (it seems to be the only image of mine that survived!)
The Tim Burton Club at ACMI Fed Square in Melbourne from super kawaii mama on Vimeo.
Both ACMI and MoMa have done such an outstanding job putting this exhibition together that you MUST go and see it. And like I said on Twitter, even if you have to sell a kidney to get there – go and see this! After all, that would be a rather Burton-esque way to do it!
Awesome stuff-
Do you want to go to ACMI and see the Tim Burton Exhibition for yourself? Of course you do!!
I have 2 for 1 passes to give away! Just leave me a comment telling me why you need to go and see this for yourself – the best entries will get a 2 for 1 pass. ( Open to Australian Residents only)
It’s just perfect. Dark, spiced and a...
I am so unbelievably jealous that I am literally speechless.
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Major envy from me too! But I did get to go the following day, and loved it too. There was so much to inspire – the drawings and maquettes – but especially the COSTUMES! Ooh lala!! I gazed at the top hat and mad hatter coat for ages…just to see how they were done.
And hopefully I’ll better organise my next trip down and we can all go to high tea or something
Trashtaskitka: The costumes are UNBELIEVABLE! The level of detail gives them such an emotional resonance that I’ve never seen in a stage or screen costume to date. I’m sure that the detail is lost on the screen but there is a depth that is conveyed through Colleen’s work that couldn’t have been achieved any other way.
Thank you for such a wonderful blog. Tim’s movies live with me daily, he has taught me to expect the unusual, to revel in the darkness and to love and accept all that is foreign to me. It started with Pee Wee’s squeels of delight, to the best batman movies ever, to the incredible beetlejuice (don’t say it 3 times), to the magic of Edward, (with none other than the ‘Vincent’, a life time crush with Christopher Lee, which he addressed in Willie), the glorious tree in sleepy hollow, to the wonderful storyteller of Big Fish, to the aliens that came in peace (I use this line regularly as I piss myself laughing), and the wonderful Willie Wonka or the blood gushing Sweeney Todd. They are all part of who I am and how I see the world. I work in theatre and it is his influence that drives me and directs the look of all that I create.
Sharing the opening with you was thrilling and I plan to see the exhibition on 25th July. I am enjoying the anticipation and shall soon start counting off the sleeps.
Tracey: Thank you for such a lovely comment! I know you’ll want to see it over and over again.
How exciting, I love Burtons work. Disneyland is extra special when it is decorated for the Nightmare before Christmas. How I wish I could just snap my fingers and travel from one place to another to see this. I can’t believe you lost all your photo’s, how awful !!! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Jaede: Yes, it was just awful, but I went back again today and got some great snaps in the entrance with my daughters as well as a number of books and toys from the store. It fired their imaginations so much!
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Oh Ms SKM,
I need to go and see this exhibition – and to take my boyfriend who is an illustrator and animator. He will probably already have seen it, as he lives in Melbourne, so I would love to have a reason for him to take me when I come down from Sydney for a visit!
(Not that he is stingy and wouldn’t splash out …. I’m just saying…..:)
Thanks for a wonderful post too – its great how much variety you can pack into your blog!
Amanda: I’m so glad you liked it! The blog really is about the things I love, so being honored to feature Tim’s work is right up there! Your boyfriend may just need a crash cart on hand once he sees how great this is.
Wow you are so lucky!
Husband and I are going down to Melbs in the first week of October to see the show, I’m quite excited (especially after seeing those Jack heads!). After a trip to QLD in two weeks it’s a bit of a stretch but we just have to go, Burton is such a creative genius I couldn’t miss it!
Mikaela: It is totally worth the trip. And think of it this way, at least you don’t have to fly down for the Valentino Exhibition as you get that one is Brisbane, we’ll have to fly up from here!
ahh but you see I am actually in Canberra, so have to fly everywhere for everything!
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I’m going next Wednesday. I am so looking forward to it, and totally jealous of you!
Else: You’ll love it!
Hey SKM,
I would LOVE a pass because I’ve actually already booked plane tickets for myself and my fiance to go down to Melbourne from the Sunshine Coast in QLD to see this exhibit. Four years ago (at the age of fourteen) we met on a cruise in the South Pacific and were brought together by our love of Tim Burton. We met because we were both wearing the same Jack Skellington tshirt and even though we lived in different states (me in Sydney and he in Noosa, QLD) we made it work and fell in love and now are engaged and live together. Our whole house is decorated with our collection of Tim Burton merchandise and we spent our teen years watching his movies. We adore his work and can’t wait to see the exhibit! So jealous of your meeting him
Alivia
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Oh my gosh, how amazing! I loooooooove Tim Burton’s aesthetic… right up my alley
Wow. I am really interested in Tim Burton’s exhibition because I have seen beetle juice and Edward scissorhands, but was not sure I would be able to engage my 8 year old if we went. Reading your post, you’re so very lucky to meet the man, the genius himself Tim Burton. And I think it would be an excellent, no awesome school holiday activity for Melbourne’s winter. You have converted me to rethink going along with kids to experience all that is Tim burton’s artistic imagery.
Melissa: You really should! I was in awe of just how much my little girls got out of the experience. The looks of sheer joy and wonderment, not to mention the drawings they did in the activity centre later on, was simply amazing.
gaaah…. star-struck girlie fan moment! Love it! Great post! AND s totally jealous!
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I can’t wait to go see this exhibition. I’m usually so slack about these kinds of things – I’ll decide I want to see something then, by the time I get around to it, the exhibition has finished but this one is firmly in my diary.
Kathryn- Do! Oh please do
Ooh how awesome would it to meet Tim Burton!!(!)
I am going to check out/need to see this exhibition next week with my sister (we want to get photos taken with the Mars Attack aliens). ^__^
Hi SKM,
Just a quick note about the 2 for 1 pass to see Tim Burton exhibition.
As a family we have been fans of his work from very early on. It only has lately occured to me that his movies are a bit left of centre. But to me they always seemed just right and quite normal.
For the first time for awhile i have the school hols off work and would love to be able to take the kids to see it.
Keep up the great work with your writing love indulging myself when I get home about 1am from work and read your latest updates.
Love
Jayne
Squeeeee!! I am so very, very envious that you went AND met the man himself!
I adore Tim Burton’s work so much, and I am actually getting a few of his characters tattooed on me in September! Did I mention these tattoos will be done in Scotland?
Keep up the brilliant work SKMama!
Oh, did I also mention that this trip where I am getting the tatts is also our honeymoon?
Surely I did say that I have secretly (unknown to fiancee) changed the flights for said honeymoon, so that we fly from Canberra (home) to Melbourne first, before departing for overseas…..no? Well I did! lol!
So, I heard about the exhibition, and knew it would be the perfect suprise for my lad!
My fingers are so firmly crossed!
All this while I’ve been dreaming to wander in “Burtonland”,
Always wondering what’s going on in “Burton Factory-land”,
Winning the “Golden Ticket” goodies is not what I’ve planned,
but if I can, I’d definitely want it in my hands!
Oh my… SKM..I would’ve react the same thing like u too ..never been a fans girl. But if he’s standing in front of me I would be numb and out of words too. Growing up watching his creations and learning about animations productions and creating D.I.Y animations in uni. It makes me even want to be part of his exhibitions and be inspired. .. thank you SKM for reviewing bits n pieces bout the exhibition and motivates me to.:)
I’m actually going down to Melbourne come October for almost two weeks to pack the show (I am one of the few from MoMA that put it together here). It was truly a great experience and we all loved it so much – I’m glad the joy is being felt over in Australia as well. I’d love to have a mini meet-up, after all, a girl can only eat alone so many nights in a far away country!
Brandi – Wow – impressive! Sure, drop me a line closer to when you’re here.
National Gallery of Victoria…
A short stroll from Federation Square across the Yarra River over the Princess Bridge, the National Gallery of Victoria is home to the state’s impressive international art collection, arguably the largest such collection in the country.Since the Natio…
Oh man, I would kill to meet Tim Burton.
I kick myself everyday for not finding out sooner about Burton’s arrival to ACMI the day before the opening.
If I did, I would have gladly gotten in queue and waited throughout the night with a grin on my face, just to meet him.
Still, the exhibition was AMAZING!!! I loved it sooo much! I’m actually quite sad that tomorrow is it’s last day at ACMI ):