Hollywood at KHM: The Curious World of Wes Anderson

The exhibition, organized by renowned American director and illustrator and Lebanese costume designer, delivers exactly the promise of the Wes Anderson brand. It is a collection of curious objects and artifacts of the KHM Wien, refined by a pinch of childhood curiosity and a pinch of intrigue: ingredients that have already earned the director of "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" "many awards for his films.

From the minor to the main role

One of the 423 objects that the couple, dating from 2013, chose from the KHM's 14 collections and four million exhibits over a two-year period is the coffin of a shrew of the Egyptian-Eastern collection. The latter is part of the title of the exhibition "Shrew Mummy in a coffin and other treasures" from Andersonsken, which also recalls the children's books of the British Roald Dahls – one of the Directors aged 49 filmed ("The Fantastic World of Mr. Fox").

Normally, however, the coffin is not exposed in a visible manner in a side cabinet of the Egyptian collection. Much of the show's artifacts come from the museum's stockpiles and are even presented for the first time at the KHM – because the objects had never been selected for a show before, for lack of meaning.

Far from the art cannon tested

The collection of confused objects also includes a ceramic beaded necklace made from ancient Egypt and a 5,000 year old wooden monkey from Indonesia. One zone is arranged only in green, another is dedicated to a variety of images of the culture of the legal representation, including their armor.

For fans of the Texas filmmaker, the reference to his cinematic worlds, in which children behave often as adults and vice versa, is clearly visible. The KHM had already given a preview of the show in September: a trailer of the filmmaker had been published, accompanied by a music in the manner of Anderson.

The fact that the couple of artists away from the art cannon and its exposure quickly becomes obvious. The traditional halls of the KHM are the ideal contrast with the entertaining spectacle. Thus, for example, the paintings of ancient masters of art history stand alongside unknown artists. "Wes and Juman are people who tend to go in the opposite direction when they see a great historical painting," says curator Jasper Sharp, about the selection process: "It was a challenge for us to give up control of our collections. "

Anderson follows Ruscha and de Waal

"However, we hope that with the show, we will brighten up some corners, which were too dark to be viewed comfortably," Anderson said in the exhibition catalog. "He has managed to reverse our vision of collections," said Sabine Haag, KHM's Executive Director.

This is the third time that the KHM offers famous artists, but not specialists, the opportunity to build an exhibition from the complete collections of the house. The designer Ed Ruscha started with "The Ancients stole all our great ideas" in 2012, followed by the British ceramic artist and author Edmund de Waal with the exhibition "During the night" 2016. L & # 39; Anderson exhibition will also be available from October 2019 to see at the Fondazione Prada in Milan. In addition, Anderson films will be in the city center of the votive cinema in Vienna from Wednesday.

An aesthetic that conquers the world

In any case, the KHM has managed another hit with the current show. The couple's show debut even attracted Hollywood stars such as Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, who also witnessed the creation in Vienna of "Suspiria" in Vienna. The award-winning filmmaker is considered one of the personalities of popular culture, which also exerts a great influence beyond the cinema screen – from art to fashion via social networks. For example, the Instagram account "Accidentally Wes Anderson" now has half a million subscribers. The basic principle: people send images that correspond to the aesthetic of the filmmaker.

"Much of modern culture is based on the idea of ​​carefully caring for one's own image," said British Film Institute critics Danny Leigh, quoted in The Guardian. Anderson's popularity on social media is therefore not surprising, as he has been an expert in curating for years. "It's something Anderson pioneered: the idea that everything is deeply conscious and deeply adapted," says Leigh.

Much of his film is recognizable by the carefully chosen music, careful composition of recordings, and shrill costumes – his style has even formed a whole sub-category of American cinema. And this attention to detail as well as the new dreamlike composition of the objects of the KHM – though it may surprise connoisseurs of art – constitute the charm of "Spitzmaus's Mom in a coffin and other treasures" ".