Fairy tales are a difficult theme to tackle. After all, there are so many cultural influences on the folkloric oeuvre. Is the frog a prince or a princess? That depends on the country where you encounter the fairy tale. Is there an evil witch? Maybe she eats children or confuses travellers; or maybe she is not so evil and can assist a hero’s quest when asked. Maybe there are magical creatures that borrow characteristics from each other’s folklore. The depth of the fairy tale opus is huge.
The GOMA exhibition takes on the massive task of filtering through the immense fairy tale folklore to bring together a wide collection of art that responds to several themes: ‘Into the woods,’ ‘Through the looking glass,’ and ‘Ever after.’ However, after walking through the exhibition, I would argue that transformation is the driving force behind the exhibition. Transformation permeates the classic tales of the Red Ridinghood, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast – the list goes on and on. The GOMA exhibition builds on the French origins of fairy tales (or contes de fées) and develops the theme of transformation into the realm of contemporary art, complete with a witch’s house, nightmarish creatures, lost children and, of course, the bizarre world of Alice in Wonderland.
Little ‘side’ treasures – a touch I personally love – demonstrate the work beyond simple re-telling of a fairy tale and the ideas that branch off a little into sub-themes beyond the scope of the exhibition, such as the dress worn in a 1946 film “Beauty and the Beast” by Jean Cocteau, or a costume designed by Henri Matisse for the Ballets Russes adaptation of ‘The Nightingale.’ Also look for the original papercuts by Hans Christian Andersen, and a nineteenth-century photograph by Lewis Carroll!
Overall, a challenging exhibition to present, lined with some amazing and surprising pieces of art that range from Little Red Riding Hood by Gustave Doré to the impressive sculpture of a sapling creature attached to a human by Patricia Piccinini. (A word of caution – this last work is not for the fainthearted!) This exhibition has the capacity to appeal on different levels to people of all ages. While many associate fairy tales with children, some of the art pieces will be seen as with a touch of horror by an adult viewer. Want to be awed, scared, and amazed – all in one visit? Then go the GOMA Fairy Tales exhibition – on display until 28th April.
