The Tim Burton Show

The entrance to the Tim Burton show is a toothy clown audaciously daring visitors to step through its jaws. As I step through, I am greeted by a plethora of bizarre contraptions, like a “Little Shop of Horrors.” I am instantly drawn to a series of female portraits. One particular drawing of a mopey girl wearing a red stitched heart appears to be a kindred spirit, and I instantly found solace in her dejected disposition. Throughout the exhibition, a similar feeling is projected. Although Burton’s characters are outlandish, there is something beneath their oddity that is infinitely relatable.

Tim Burton has long been renowned for his expertise in blending the macabre and the humorous. His tactful meshing of the two has led the American film director and artist to international acclaim, paving the road for the Shanghai exhibition of Burton’s most personal works.

The four-story gallery showing at the Lafayette Art and Design Center proudly displays Burton’s Pop Surrealist design that captivated visitors at the New York MOMA from 2009 to 2010. The exhibition boasts over 500 of Burton’s artworks, ranging from off-kilter statues to impromptu napkin sketches. However, every single piece features a distinct component of intimacy. Burton’s sketches appear to be streams of consciousness and
The bar area is littered with Burton memorabilia as well as a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, complimented by peculiar techno music. Moreover, the mere fact that an art museum dedicated to the director of numerous children’s films houses a bar is quite eccentric. However, it flatters Burton’s florid, contradictory style. Tim Burton is essentially a walking paradox. His works are gothic yet unbearably light, niche yet universal. Therefore, it’s no wonder that Burton’s charming dialogues and witty art have trekked the globe from New York City to Shanghai, inspiring astonishment along the