‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ opens at GOMA

 

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines today announced ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ would open exclusively at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from Saturday 27 May until 3 September 2017. The exhibition is the first major Marvel exhibition in Australia and the largest ever presented in an art museum worldwide.

Curated by QAGOMA, the exhibition is drawn from Marvel Studios’ extensive archive as well as private and public collections including the Library of Congress, Washington DC. It will give audiences an unprecedented insight into the rich fictional world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rodney Fuentebella / Splash panel with Spider-Man / Keyframe for Captain America: Civil War 2016 / © 2017 MARVEL

‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ encompasses the entire ground floor of GOMA with more than 500 objects including more than 60 original costumes (worn by actors including Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Tilda Swinton), comic books, props, spectacular set design, concept and keyframe art, clips from Marvel Studios films and bespoke hands-on interactives.

Must-see highlights include a large-scale diorama with costumes, props and clips from Captain America: The First Avenger, multiple versions of Iron Man’s suits, the imposing three-metre-tall Hulkbuster armour, and never-before-seen items from the set of Thor: Ragnarok including Hulk’s bed and the majestic Asgardian throne room.

Ryan Meinerding / Hulk versus Hulkbuster no.7 / Keyframe for Avengers: Age of Ultron 2015 / © 2017 MARVEL
Andrew Kim / Flying with Ant-thony / Keyframe for Ant-Man 2015 / © 2017 MARVEL
Charlie Wen / The Guardians no.1 / Keyframe for Guardians of the Galaxy 2014 / © 2017 MARVEL

The exhibition’s three key themes ‘The Cinematic Assembled’, ‘Decoding the Universe’ and ‘Behind the Scenes’ profiles legendary Marvel characters and their complex personas, focusing on Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow and Hulk, as well as the Avengers, Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy.

In addition to looking at the cinematic experience and the larger narratives at play in the films, the exhibition highlights the work of artists and creative teams behind the much-loved stories – including production design, storyboarding and pre-visualisation, costume and prop design, and visual effects.

Kevin Feige, Producer, Marvel Studios, said the company was thrilled to be working with QAGOMA to bring to life this unique exhibition.

The support we’ve received from Queensland and the country of Australia has been incredible. After filming ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ on Queensland’s Gold Coast we couldn’t think of a better location than GOMA to stage the largest Marvel exhibition ever.

Kevin Feige, Producer, Marvel Studios

Cinema
Throughout the exhibition season a retrospective of Marvel Cinematic Universe films will screen in QAGOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque including 2017 releases Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Open Wednesday night
The exhibition will open late until 9pm every Wednesday evening.

Up Late
Explore the exhibition after hours, be tempted by the food and drinks offerings, and enjoy a line up of live music from Art vs Science, Black Cab, Habits, Olympia, Models and NO ZU. Fridays 28 July – 1 September (5.30pm – 10.00pm).

Exhibition Shop
The dedicated exhibition shop offers an extensive selection of Marvel comics, publications, collectibles, accessories and an exclusive range of exhibition merchandise.

Publication
The exhibition is accompanied by a full-colour 240 page publication featuring essays by exhibition curator Amanda Slack-Smith, Associate Curator, Australian Cinémathèque, QAGOMA; Glen Weldon from National Public Radio’s Pop Culture Happy Hour; and Roxane Gay, editor, novelist and writer of Marvel Comics’ Black Panther: World of Wakanda (2016-); with an introduction by Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. The softcover version features cover art by Marvel Studios Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding, and the hardcover art is a newly commissioned piece by Marvel Studios Visual Development Supervisor Andy Park, inspired by Thor: Ragnarok. A limited edition box including the hardcover publication and a signed and numbered art print of the cover art by Andy Park (edition of 100) will be available in-store only from the Marvel Exhibition Shop from 1.00pm Friday 26 May 2017.

DELVE DEEPER INTO THE EXHIBITION AND THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE

‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ has been organised by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment. The exhibition has received vital support from the Queensland Government though Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and Arts Queensland. The Gallery acknowledges the support of UNIQLO – Principal Partner and exclusive sponsor of ‘Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe’ Up Late.

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