To say that I had a great time at the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA would be a gross understatement. The volume of things…of props, costumes, posters, production artwork, was unbelievable. There was a huge wall full of original theatrical posters (one of my favorite things there). Next to that was all manner of camera equipment along with scripts from Lolita, signed letters from famous actors… the list goes on and on. The exhibition was engrossing; I could have spent days there.
From LACMA’s Website
By featuring this legendary film auteur and his oeuvre as the focus of his first retrospective in the context of an art museum, the exhibition reevaluates how we define the artist in the 21st century, and simultaneously expands upon LACMA’s commitment to exploring the intersection of art and film.
The exhibition featured some of Kubrick’s earliest works including some short films that I hadn’t even heard of before. And, of course, all of his classics. This post features some of the incredible artwork from 2001 A Space Odyssey.
I believe that the most mind-blowing work at the Stanley Kubrick exhibit was the pre-production artwork for 2001 A Space Odyssey. In close second were the practical effects and costumes from the film. They were amazing. The special effects from that film blow many contemporary films away… and the fact that everything was done in the 1960’s using practical effects: painting, models, and not a computer in sight, is absolutely incredible. I’m not convinced that these artists were not time-travelers…
Preproduction/Storyboard artwork for 2001 A Space Odyssey:
Can you believe that they painted this in the 1960’s?
This looks like my Dad’s work laptop circa 2002
These incredible paintings are Concept artwork of the visualization of outer-space…and what they thought it looks like/could look like beyond the stars:
And a tiny model of Discovery’s spinning fuselage. I really wanted this model to be functional/spinning. Can you spot a tiny astronaut Frank Poole?
Hello!
Not to be shown without its detailed blueprints, of course:
And, finally, photographs of the space suits that astronaut Frank Poole wore in the film. They are incredibly detailed and look much like REAL spacesuits. They truly are incredible.
These look like you really could wear them into the vast void of space…
Other amazing props worth mentioning were the ape costumes from the beginning of the film. They were very lifelike and had interesting mechanisms inside to allow the actor to move the ape’s mouth. Also, some furniture from the space ships and the interstellar flight attendant’s accessories.
Stay tuned for more artwork from the show…
Page Redford 