Tim Burton “The Returns”. The magical world of Tim Burton in the Town Hall

Starting in May, Prague will be surrounded by the magical world of Tim Burton for a few long months. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say worlds, because this modern storyteller always builds several dimensions and builds his stories on their unexpected clashes. No wonder they call him the carnival surrealist. The carnival itself is a reflection and an unconscious celebration of forgotten mysteries for the people of today.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

Tim Burton he is known primarily as a filmmaker. On Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands), Ed Wood, Batman and Stolen Christmas Nightmare Before Christmas simply cannot be forgotten. However, Burton’s earlier work did not reach us thanks to the pre-November political division of the world. The author’s handwriting is best known in Vincent, Frankenweenie: To the pet whose Beetlejuice. It confirms that Tim Burton is not the type of director who directs a film from a desk or a crane. He also designs, sketches, models and animates characters, interiors and scenery himself. Even as a boy, he started using a pencil and brush to create strange worlds in which he set unusual stories. And he never really stopped.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

This is exactly what the exhibition in the Municipal House is about

It recalls Burton’s initial struggle with the work of animator, through film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, followed by a comic book classic Batman about the bat-man with the central pair of Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, only after fulfilling perhaps all of his dreams in the last realizations. For example, in the series Wednesday could reintroduce characters already known from The Addams Family. He used his unmistakable style to redefine them as he directed four of the eight episodes. Not to mention the remake of the movie dumbo, a fairy-tale story about the courage to stand up to injustice and the discovery of one’s own abilities, or Miss Peregrine’s Orphanage for Peculiar Children, which offers the opportunity to peek under the hood of a mysterious place full of strange creatures and supernatural events. And then there’s the movie Big eyes telling the true story of one of the biggest art frauds of the 1950s.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

Katerina Riley from Art Movementwho is organizationally responsible for the exhibition, says: “Among many drawings, paintings and collages, you will also find puppets and film decorations at the exhibition. Get ready for Martians from Attack, skeleton-dancers from The Bride, and umpalumps from The Chocolate Factory, complete with other statues of fantastic, albeit not-yet-film characters. The unusual installation of puppets for the exhibition was jointly devised by Czech Lion winner Jan Bubeníček and architect Martina Kárová. I am convinced that it will be a really great experience for everyone,” Kateřina Riley adds.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

The exhibition will also offer the European viewer a glimpse into the history of the overseas entertainment industry, its excesses and obscure forms. It will introduce American pop phenomena, artistic waves and fashion trends. Those that Burton drew from, as well as others that he became inspired by.

The living, the dead, those from other worlds or those who created their own realms. The mutual visits or intermingling of their habitats is the source of the human mythology of horror. But Tim Burton looks at these phenomena with humor and comedic ingenuity. He returns the dead to the world of the living, sends the living to an early grave, the Martians to Earth, and an unwanted child who looks like a penguin, has an empire built in the sewers. And why not? After all, the dead are distinguished from the living mainly by the circles under the eyes and worse physical condition.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

Sometimes it’s worth inviting them home. To reject the discredited, even sometimes touching morality of adults with their life seen through experience full of unprovable values. Not to grow up even at the cost of incomprehensible cruelty, which is justified by testing what the world can withstand, even if the bones crack in the process. All of this comes from the main characters, the movers of Burton’s universes. Eccentric views, behavior and physical handicaps push them to the fringes of society, but their genius keeps them in the subconscious of people and sometimes throws them briefly like a meteorite into the center of events. Edward, Penguin, Jack and Charlie they went from sketches to feature films, but maybe A stain and Oyster boy they remained only in drawings and watercolors. At the exhibition you will see them all together exactly as Tim Burton dreamed them.

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

Maybe even in Prague somewhere in front of a confectionery you will see that beautiful bicycle that Pee Wee still desperately searching, or you will stumble upon the tree of the dead, in whose trunk agony is trapped. And watch out for the ring trick – don’t bring home a dead bride! If you don’t know how to deal with it, you may find a solution at the address below…

Tim Burton in the Municipal House (©Jan Hromádko)

Tim Burton on the exhibition

“I grew up in Burbank, California, and there wasn’t much of a show culture there. Apart from visiting the Hollywood Panopticon, I didn’t get into any museums until I was a teenager. I spent most of my time watching movies and shows about monsters, drawing whatever I could think of and …playing in the graveyard. When I later started visiting museums, I was surprised to find that I experienced similar feelings in them as the sight of monuments and graves. Those places have a quiet, brooding, yet electrifying atmosphere. Full of suspense, mystery and discovery – they bring life and death together. And so when me in 2008 appealed to the New Yorker Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) with an offer to arrange an exhibition of my art works, I felt honored, but also insecure. Various people have already encouraged me to exhibit my work. But I never drew or painted with the intention of bragging about it to someone. Fortunately, I didn’t refuse and I’m glad. If only because letting go of one’s own restraint was difficult, but at the same time wonderful. It gave me the opportunity to travel and share experiences with people in all the other places the exhibition traveled to. I am extremely glad that since 2008 my team put together already the third exhibition (2008 for MoMU, 2014 for Prague and now again for Prague). I was enchanted by its atmosphere 10 years ago, and now I look forward to it just as much, even if it will be in a different place. I fell in love with Prague because of its Gothic beauty, weakness for puppets and marionettes, and because of its inhabitants – which probably includes you. Thank you for invitation! I believe you will like the exhibition.’

Burton a second time, a third time and once more – this time on the stage
or The Karlín Music Theater presents a musical adaptation of the film Beetlejuice

It will be from pensand Scott Brown, Anthony King and composers and lyricists Eddie Perfect and in no way does it differ from the original. Karlín Musical Theatre is also a proud partner of the newly opened exhibition “Tim Burton” – The Returns. The story itself takes it to the next level with imaginative scenography and costumes, as well as lighting effects – behind which stands the renowned light designer with decades of experience on Broadway, the American Ken Billington. He collaborates with his compatriot, director Gabriel Barre, and the international team is also completed by British scenographer Dave Benson. In addition, the viewer’s emotions are attacked by energetic expressive music supported by new sound equipment. The producer of the Czech version, Egon Kulhánek, says with pride. “We pulled off a real hussar stunt – we got the license for this hot hit before London. The Czech premiere will be in Prague only 8 years after the Broadway premiere!” November premiere of Beetlejuice – a mix of dark comedy, dark humor and poignant moments – will undoubtedly be the musical event of the year. In addition, it ceremoniously (even famously) follows up on the world premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceagain directed by Tim Burton, announced on September 6, 2024.