Last weekend Mister and I attended a preview of a new exhibit at L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA): “Guillermo del Toro: At Home With Monsters.”
Before I get into it, let me tell you that Mister thought this blog post needed only 2 words of text: Mind. Blown. He was right, but, as per usual, he’s not the boss of me.
Anyhoo – this was the busiest preview I’ve attended at LACMA, and we we had to wait in a couple of lines to get in. That caught me off-guard, and threw me a bit. So when we finally entered the exhibit, it took me a while to get into it (and out of my head). But then I did get into it. I got so very into it that I became giddy and excited to venture around every corner.
Curated by del Toro, it is a fabulous exhibit holding his personal collection from his L.A. home, Bleak House. The title is perfect, as it expresses how del Toro lives with his collection, as you can see from the photo of his home…
I’m not someone who seeks out the macabre or gore.
And yet I am familiar with del Toro’s works and I’m a fan. (If you’ve not seen “Pan’s Labyrinth” – you have no idea how truly amazing del Toro’s imagination can be.) His genuine affection for monsters and darkness is lovely. Really.
Some of the oddities on display seemed so comfortable to me. I can’t explain it. I felt at home with his pieces. More than once, I simply felt awe.
And then I came around a corner, looked up and did a little happy dance. In a low whisper, I began chanting, “One of us! One of us!”…
The life-size sculptures inspired by the 1932 film “Freaks” were so joyous and beautiful, I could hardly contain myself.
I’m sure many in attendance were familiar with “Freaks.” But I did notice a few folks laughing at me, just the same, upon hearing my excited chanting and seeing me very nearly bouncing up and down. Their laughs didn’t bother me one bit. I was elated.
The exhibit is enormous, to be sure. And reading the descriptive placards placed near each piece was not only helpful but fascinating as well.
If a sculpture’s subject wasn’t recognizable, the info provided shined a light. And the caliber of work is just fantastic.
When I saw del Toro’s notebook on display, it fit in perfectly and showed his relevance in the collection, not only as its curator, but also as an artist…
Some pieces were head-scratchers…
Others, like the painting below, were simply phenomenal works of art…
Once Mister and I had spent a fair amount of time touring the exhibit, we took our leave. I did buy the accompanying book of this exhibit, as it’s gorgeous and I want to be able to visit del Toro’s monsters once in a while.
“Guillermo del Toro: At Home With Monsters” will be on display at LACMA through 27 November of this year. If you are in the Los Angeles area (or plan to be), I urge you to see it. It is inspiring and unique and lovely. Words fail me. I truly adored it.
And while I have never, ever wanted to own a life-size sculpture of anyone, I admit to being terribly smitten with “Schlitzie” by Thomas Kuebler, and the idea of having her in a corner of the New Pad causes my soul to bubble. Just thinking about her makes me smile with abandon…
Mind. Blown. Mister was right.