Within the beautiful world of Alice in Wonderland
The story of one of the most famous children's books of all time began on a golden afternoon in Oxford in 1862 while on a boat trip when writer Charles Dodgson was out with a group of friends including Christ Church College Dean Henry Liddell and his family.
Along the way, Dodgson Liddells entertained three children with a wonderful story about a curious girl named Alice and her underground adventures. The "real" Alice – Alice Liddell – asked him to write the story down as a keepsake for her, and the seeds of Alice's adventures in Wonderland were planted.
Above: Down the rabbit hole © Kristjana S. Williams. Above: Installation at the V&A in London. All installation images © Victoria and Albert Museum London
The book was written as Lewis Carroll (Dodgson's pseudonym was a Latinized and reversed version of his first and last name). It was first published in 1865 and has not been out of print since then. It's considered one of the most iconic, inventive, and inspiring stories of all time by children and adults alike.
As the book celebrates its 150th anniversary, V & A's new blockbuster exhibition explores the origins, adaptations and reinventions of Alice in Wonderland over the years, showing the book's evolution from manuscript to global phenomenon. With over 300 objects in five Alice-inspired worlds, this is the first time a museum has fully explored the book's cultural implications and its ongoing inspiration for creatives.
Alice at the Mad Hatter & # 39; s Tea Party, illustration for Alice & # 39; s Adventures in Wonderland by John Tenniel, 1865
The first section of the show, Creating Alice, looks at the origins of the story in Victorian Oxford. It introduces visitors to the real-life Alice, delves into Dodgson's mid-Victorian inspirations ranging from a kaleidoscope to a dodoskeleton, and shows the brilliant work of Punch magazine's leading cartoonist, John Tenniel, who does the Characters brought to life in the story.
The birth of the film industry in the 20th century opened up Alice's story to new audiences. The most obvious examples are family favorites like Walt Disney's groundbreaking 1951 animated version of the story, which featured work by conceptual artist Mary Blair, and Tim Burton's 2010 adaptation, which was the first to mix CGI, animation, and live action. Creation of hybrid characters like Helena Bonham Carter's giant-headed Red Queen.
In addition to Disney and Burton adaptations, there are other niche examples produced in countries from Argentina to Japan, where the book remains one of the most popular sources for manga and anime.
Aside from the movie, Alice and her striking blue, thin, and black headband have left their mark on the creative industry. For example, the 1950s marked the beginning of a three-decade advertising partnership between Guinness and the World of Wonderland, while in the 1960s the Surrealists took over the spirit of the psychological chaos of history and Salvador Dalí created an illustrated edition of the book with melting clock motifs.
Concept art by Mary Blair for Walt Disney's 1951 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland © Disney
More recently, rapper Little Simz used the story as a metaphor for her own life in downtown London on her 2016 album Stillness in Wonderland. In 2018, photographer Tim Walker recreated Wonderland with an all-black cast, including RuPaul and Naomi Campbell for his take on the annual Pirelli calendar designed by Edward Enninful, now British Vogue editor.
It wouldn't be a blockbuster V&A show without a spectacular set, and Tom Piper doesn't disappoint. Piper & # 39; s latest project is best known for his sets for the Royal Shakespeare Company and his poppy installation in the Tower of London. Each portal is signaled by an installation that embodies an event or character from history, including the tear pool, the Cheshire cat, and the Mad Hatter tea party.
In a premiere for the V&A, there is also a VR experience that was created in collaboration with HTC Vive Arts and produced by the game studio Preloaded. During the experience, visitors enter a door hall before stepping into the Queen of Hearts croquet court for A Curious Game of Croquet.
After a year of sorely lacking gallery and museum visits, the dazzling, dazzling world of Alice in Wonderland feels like the perfect return to form for the V&A – and maybe the dose of escapism we have I need everything now.
Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser will be airing on V&A London through December 31st. vam.ac.uk.