Things To Do
Review
Embrace the weird, whimsical and wonderful World Of Tim Burton
Experience macabre clowns, animated skeletons, gothic costumes, and a commentary on suburbia at The World Of Tim Burton exhibition
From major blockbuster Batman Returns (1992) and Hallow-Christmas classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) to the obscure Disney Channel oddball Hansel And Gretel (1983); stop-motion to live action; and everything in between, Tim Burton’s artistic vision and career has ran the gamut. Like trying to fit an entire magical world onto the head of a pin, having one place to view concept art and final products from his vast bodies of work can seem difficult, if not impossible. But nestled in Holland Park, Kensington, The Design Museum is home to an exhibition that has done just that – the impossible.
The World Of Tim Burton is an exploration of Burton’s work and knack for world-building from the perspective of Burton as a designer, looking at his earliest stop-motion work in the 70s during his time as one of the earliest students at California Institute of Art, through to his work on Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (2024) and Wednesday (2022). The entire exhibition feels as though it takes the shape of his artistic process, starting with his rough sketches and initial inspirations, before settling into his motifs of stripes, whimsi-goth horror, and leather. Without spoiling too much, here are some of the highlights from The World Of Tim Burton.
A prominent theme in Burton’s work is challenging the conformity he found in American suburbia, opting instead for the bizarre and the strange. Placing fantastical monsters and objects in ordinary settings, Burton’s craft grew from doodles in his home studio (recreated in the exhibition to live scale, complete with his desk, chairs and art supplies) to live action re-imaginings of classic fairytales – his wonderfully peculiar Hansel And Gretel turns an already terrifying children’s tale into a full-on nightmare, equipped with his fascination with creepy clowns and the circus, and featuring his own paper cut-outs in the set design.
From the restrictions of his small, suburban upbringing, Burton’s imaginations expanded to supernatural worlds with Frankenweenie (2012) and Corpse Bride (2005), to space with Mars Attacks!, as well as to some reimagined pop culture favourites such as Batman Returns (1992), his directorial debut Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), and Alice In Wonderland (2010). Each of his major projects is carefully displayed with sketches of how he developed his characters, documentary footage of his stop-motion processes, dioramas with his original models, and the original costumes.
The World Of Tim Burton is a fully immersive one, not only showing you new sides of well-known works (such as the earliest sketches of Edward Scissorhands (1990), or the 400 individual facial expressions of Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) but also bringing you into parts unseen, or perhaps forgotten. Before his gothic calling card, Burton had regular motifs of circuses, clowns, funfairs and mischief – which have their own wacky section of the exhibition. Plus, his own personal Polaroids of his creative process across decades and projects from his archive are on display, allowing visitors to have a more intimate understanding of Tim Burton’s work and life.
The exhibition combines illustration, photography, documentary and feature film footage, expanding beyond his own work to artistic projects inspired by Tim Burton’s lasting legacy. Graciously donated by the Creative Director of Vogue, pieces from the coveted Alexander McQueen A/W 2002 Collection are also on show, which drew inspiration from Burton characters’ exaggerated proportions, stripes, polkadots, gothic silhouettes and monochromatic colour schemes. Another highlight is work by Burton’s frequent collaborator Albert Cuellar, which is displayed in a corridor that feels like an optical illusion decorated with Burton and Cuellar’s art.
And by the end, it still doesn’t feel like enough. All you’re left with is the overwhelming urge to go back and watch all the Burton classics with the fresh pair of eyes the exhibition has gifted you. As this is the final stop in a decade-long world tour of The World Of Tim Burton, this is truly one you don’t want to miss.
The World Of Tim Burton is booking until April 2025. Find tickets here
