This past weekend I saw the Tim Burton exhibit at the MOMA in NYC. I could spend a lot of time searching for the right adjective to describe how awesome the show was - but that’s not the intention of this post (it was phenomenal, however). My intention is to share with you what I learned from this artist. Something I believe to be so artistically valuable, I am committed to practicing it in my own work from this point on.
Although I don’t know Mr. Burton personally, his work portrays him as an artist that doesn’t take himself too seriously. He has the marvelously shocking ability to create dark and Gothic work without it being brooding, depressing and pretentiously self-pitying. Their is a constant boyish playfulness within his work that simply says “I like to draw” - period. The art continuously took me back to elementary school when we had indoor recess and the boys would draw fast race cars, monsters and superheros with lots of jagged fiery explosions. I could easily imagine Burton doing the same thing as both a boy and a man. The freedom, looseness and spirit in his work are the most inspiring elements I hope to infuse in my own art. Even more dagger-in-the-eye importantly, his work never asks anyone for approval. It just is as he is - take it or leave it - don’t expect me to change - otherwise I’ll draw a picture of you with your mouth being sewn shut.
As an artist I truly desire this for myself and my work. It is the ultimate and most direct route to being truly free. I must find a way to remove any self-inflicted expectations and find my real voice in my work. To be as pure and fearless as Burton - my new favorite teacher.
Tim Burton Exhibit at the MOMA