Captain America is a living legend

 

Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, is the moral epicentre of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Known as the First Avenger, Captain America’s timeline incorporates World War Two and the present day. A symbol of courage, strength and patriotism, Captain America is as important now as when his character was first conceived by artists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Captain America 1941 #1.

Taking cues from the display at Washington DC’s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum depicted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014, and drawing on the backstories featured in Captain America: The First Avenger 2011, the ‘Captain America: Living legend’ room traces the character’s development from his prewar years as ‘Skinny’ Steve from Brooklyn, a young man in poor health, through his transformation to peak physical condition as Captain America, following his involvement in the US Government’s Super Soldier program.

Installation view of the Captain America: Living legend room, Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe, GOMA 2017
Installation view of the ‘Captain America: Living legend’ room, ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’, GOMA 2017 / Captain America costume with shield; Shirt (wool); leggings (wool); shorts (wool); hood (wool); belt (nylon, metal); gloves (leather); boots (leather) shield (metal, fibreglass); From Captain America: The First Avenger 2011 / Agent Carter United States Army dress uniform; Two-piece suit (wool); blouse (silk); necktie (wool); slip (polyester); belt (wool); stockings (nylon); lapel pins (metal); shoes (leather); From Captain America: The First Avenger 2011 / © 2017 MARVEL / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA

The artwork, costumes, props and film sequences on display in the ‘Captain America: Living legend’ room highlight the rich visual history of this fictional character. Featured is the original Captain America costume, based on drawings by Simon and Kirby, while his relationships with lifelong friend Bucky Barnes and love interest Agent Peggy Carter are revealed through artwork, photographs and film sequences. The room’s central diorama portrays the elite army unit, the Howling Commandos, a crack team led by Rogers to face his nemesis, the fascist organisation known as Hydra. Artwork, costumes and props illustrate his battles with Hydra’s leader, Red Skull.

Hydra costumes from Captain America: The First Avenger 2011

Hydra costumes from Captain America: The First Avenger 2011

Harley Davidson from Captain America: The First Avenger 2011

Hydra Bike from Captain America: The First Avenger 2011

DELVE DEEPER INTO THE EXHIBITION AND MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

Go behind the scenes of ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ to experience more than 500 unique objects from your favourite films, never-before-seen iconic objects which offer a glimpse into the work of production designers, storyboarding and pre‑visualisation artists, costume and prop designers, and visual effects artists alongside the original comic books which introduced the characters and influenced the films.

TICKETS CINEMAEXHIBITION | UP LATE / BUY THE PUBLICATION

Purchase tickets for ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe‘ online or at the ticket desk 10.00am – 4.00pm daily, and until 8.00pm Wednesday. ‘Marvel’ film screenings and ‘Marvel’ Up Late are separate ticketed events.

Installation view of the Captain America Smithsonian Diorama (The Howling Commandos) Captain America: Living legend room, Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe, GOMA 2017 / © 2017 MARVEL
Feature image: Installation view of the Captain America Smithsonian Diorama (The Howling Commandos) ‘Captain America: Living legend’ room, ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’, GOMA 2017 / The Howling Commandos were an elite combat unit of international allies led by Captain America in World War Two. The group formed after they were rescued by Rogers from a Hydra prison / L to R: Jacques Dernier costume with weapon; Private Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Jones costume and weapon; Sergeant Timothy ‘Dum Dum’ Dugan costume with weapon; Captain America costume with USO shield and weapon; Sergeant James ‘Bucky’ Buchannan Barnes costume with weapon; James Montgomery Falsworth costume and weapon; Private Morita costume with weapon / © 2017 MARVEL / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA.

Amanda Slack-Smith is exhibition curator ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ and Associate Curator, Australian Cinémathèque, QAGOMA.

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