Tim Burton Exhibition at MoMA Raises Questions About Artistic Classification
The Tim Burton exhibition at MoMA (November 22, 2009 – April 26, 2010) presented over seven hundred objects including models, films, and sketches. Curators Ron Magliozzi and Jenny He emphasized details of Burton's films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd, with references to pop expressionism and German expressionism. The exhibition aimed to position Burton as a visual artist rather than merely a filmmaker, but the categorization of his preparatory sketches as untitled artworks sparked debate. The show's immersive entry through a fantastical creature's mouth symbolized its success in evoking Burton's universe. However, the broad definition of art raised concerns about inflating the status of film preparatory materials into standalone artworks. The exhibition echoed MoMA's prior homages to filmmakers like Pasolini and Méliès, while also capitalizing on pop culture appeal for financial success.
Key facts
- Exhibition ran from November 22, 2009 to April 26, 2010 at MoMA, New York.
- Over 700 objects were displayed, including models, films, and sketches.
- Curators were Ron Magliozzi and Jenny He.
- Films referenced include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd.
- Artistic references include pop expressionism and German expressionism.
- The exhibition aimed to present Tim Burton as a visual artist.
- Sketches were given the title 'Untitled', a term significant in 20th-century art history.
- The show was compared to MoMA's previous homages to Pasolini and Méliès.
Entities
Artists
- Tim Burton
- Ron Magliozzi
- Jenny He
- Francis Bacon
- Mark Rothko
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Georges Méliès
Institutions
- MoMA
- artpress
Locations
- New York
- United States
Sources
- artpress —