Fairy Tales

Promotional image from Mirror Mirror 2012 showing ‘Yellow dress with hood’ worn by Lily Collins as ‘Princess Snow’ / Director: Tarsem Singh / © 2012 UV RML NL Assets LLC. / Photograph: Jan Thijs

Promotional image from Mirror Mirror 2012 showing ‘Yellow dress with hood’ worn by Lily Collins as ‘Princess Snow’ / Director: Tarsem Singh / © 2012 UV RML NL Assets LLC. / Photograph: Jan Thijs / View full image

When

2 Dec 2023 – 28 Apr 2024

Where

Gallery of Modern Art, Foyer, Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2 & Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery)

Admission

  • Adult

    $28.00

  • Concession

    $24.00

  • Member

    $22.00

  • Youth 13-17

    $18.00

  • Child 5-12

    $10.00

  • Child Under 4 (no ticket required)

    Free

  • Family

    $71.00

  • Companion Card

    $24.00

  • Season Pass Adult

    $84.00

  • Season Pass Concession

    $72.00

  • Season Pass Member

    $66.00

  • Season Pass Youth 13-17

    $54.00

  • Season Pass Child 5-12

    $30.00
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About

Step into the enchanting world of once upon a time. From opulent carriages to sumptuous gowns, twisted woodlands to mystical mirrors, ‘Fairy Tales’ at GOMA explores centuries of beloved folk stories through art, design and film.

Exclusive to Brisbane, this exhibition brings together exceptional contemporary art, breathtaking costumes, immersive installations and stunning cinema from visual storytellers around the world to untangle themes of bravery and justice, loyalty and humility, cunning and aspiration.

‘Fairy Tales’ features the work of artists Abdul Abdullah, Del Kathryn Barton, Destiny Deacon, Gustave Doré, Rachel Feinstein, Trulee Hall, Carsten Höller, Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, Ron Mueck, Tracey Moffatt, Henrique Oliveira, Polixeni Papapetrou, Patricia Piccinini, Kiki Smith, Jana Sterbak and many others. It includes original papercuts by Hans Christian Andersen, a nineteenth-century photograph by Lewis Carroll and a costume designed by Henri Matisse for the Ballets Russes adaptation of ‘The Nightingale’. Also featured are film costumes and props from Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête 1946, Jacques Demy’s Donkey Skin 1970, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 1986, Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are 2009, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland 2010, Tarsem Singh’s Mirror Mirror 2012, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella 2015 and more.

A free curated film program screens alongside the exhibition in the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque with ongoing screenings of Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller television series throughout the season.

  • Timothy Horn, Australia/United States b.1964 / Mother-load 2008 / Crystalised rock sugar, plywood, steel / 292.6 x 182.9 x 170.7cm / Courtesy: The artist / Image courtesy: Jason Schmidt / New York Times / Photographer: Jason Schmidt

    Timothy Horn, Australia/United States b.1964 / Mother-load 2008 / Crystalised rock sugar, plywood, steel / 292.6 x 182.9 x 170.7cm / Courtesy: The artist / Image courtesy: Jason Schmidt / New York Times / Photographer: Jason Schmidt / View full image

  • Tarsem Singh (director), India/United States b.1961 / Eiko Ishioka (designer), Japan 1938–2012 / ‘Green dress’ costume from Mirror Mirror 2012 / Silk, synthetic taffeta, nylon netting, plastic / Collection: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angles / © 2012 UV RML NL Assets LLC. / Photograph: Jan Thijs

    Tarsem Singh (director), India/United States b.1961 / Eiko Ishioka (designer), Japan 1938–2012 / ‘Green dress’ costume from Mirror Mirror 2012 / Silk, synthetic taffeta, nylon netting, plastic / Collection: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angles / © 2012 UV RML NL Assets LLC. / Photograph: Jan Thijs / View full image

  • Del Kathryn Barton, Australia b 1972 / The Nightingale and the Rose (still) 2015 / Film, 14 min, edition of 6 + 2AP / Courtesy: The artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney / © Del Kathryn Barton

    Del Kathryn Barton, Australia b 1972 / The Nightingale and the Rose (still) 2015 / Film, 14 min, edition of 6 + 2AP / Courtesy: The artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney / © Del Kathryn Barton / View full image

  • Polixeni Papapetrou, Australia 1960-2018 / I’m not myself you see 2004 / Type C Photograph / 105 x 105cm / Gift of Robert Nelson through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation 2023 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Polixeni Papapetrou/Copyright Agency

    Polixeni Papapetrou, Australia 1960-2018 / I’m not myself you see 2004 / Type C Photograph / 105 x 105cm / Gift of Robert Nelson through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation 2023 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Polixeni Papapetrou/Copyright Agency / View full image

  • Timothy Horn, Australia b.1964 / Glass slipper (ugly blister) 2001 / Lead crystal, nickel-plated bronze, easter egg foil, silicon / 51.0 x 72.0 x 33.0cm / Purchased 2002 / Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra / © Timothy Horn

    Timothy Horn, Australia b.1964 / Glass slipper (ugly blister) 2001 / Lead crystal, nickel-plated bronze, easter egg foil, silicon / 51.0 x 72.0 x 33.0cm / Purchased 2002 / Collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra / © Timothy Horn / View full image

  • Gustave Doré, France 1832-83 / Little Red Riding Hood c.1862 / Oil on canvas / 65.3 × 81.7cm / Gift of Mrs S. Horne, 1962 / Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

    Gustave Doré, France 1832-83 / Little Red Riding Hood c.1862 / Oil on canvas / 65.3 × 81.7cm / Gift of Mrs S. Horne, 1962 / Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne / View full image

  • Yayoi Kusama, Japan b.1929 / Pumpkin 1992 / Colour screenprint on paper / 84 x 71cm / Purchased 1996 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Yayoi Kusama

    Yayoi Kusama, Japan b.1929 / Pumpkin 1992 / Colour screenprint on paper / 84 x 71cm / Purchased 1996 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Yayoi Kusama / View full image

Events

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Explore the themes in ‘Fairy Tales’

Kiki Smith,United States b.1954 / Born 2002 / Lithograph on mould-made TH Saunders paper / 173 x 142.5cm / Purchased with funds provided by Hamish Parker 2019 / Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney / © Kiki Smith. ARS/Copyright Agency / Image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

Kiki Smith,United States b.1954 / Born 2002 / Lithograph on mould-made TH Saunders paper / 173 x 142.5cm / Purchased with funds provided by Hamish Parker 2019 / Collection: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney / © Kiki Smith. ARS/Copyright Agency / Image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney / View full image

Into the Woods

The first of three themes presents classic stories and contemporary retellings set in the woods and faraway castles. The woods of the fairy tale are a place of possibilities and danger. Step across the threshold into the unknown and consider the magical realm in which these tales reside.

Featuring works of contemporary art, design and film, ‘Into the woods’ considers themes of magic, enchantment, thresholds and transformation, while also articulating the concepts of power imbalance and injustice, gender and otherness, ageing, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Walter Martin, United States b.1953; Paloma Muñoz, Spain b.1965 / Traveler 314 2018 / Snow globe / 19 x 15.2 x 15.2cm / Purchased 2023 with funds from Tim Fairfax AC through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz / Image courtesy: The artists

Walter Martin, United States b.1953; Paloma Muñoz, Spain b.1965 / Traveler 314 2018 / Snow globe / 19 x 15.2 x 15.2cm / Purchased 2023 with funds from Tim Fairfax AC through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz / Image courtesy: The artists / View full image

Through the Looking Glass

The second major theme embraces the unexpected, exploring stories that explore fairy tale set in fantastical parallel worlds.

Drawing on the wonders of the childlike imagination, ‘Through the Looking Glass’ explores ideas of adventure and play, bringing together works puppets and toys, snow globes and clocks; twirling mushrooms and flying houses; and immersive, otherworldly gardens populated with augmented reality and unusual creatures.

Lotte Reiniger(director), Germany/England 1899–1981 / Cinderella 1922 / 35mm film transferred to digital: 13 minutes, black and white (tinted), silent; German/English intertitles; animator: Lotte Reiniger; producer: Hans Curlis; script: Humbert Wolfe; cinematographer: Carl Koch / © British Film institute / Image courtesy: British Film Institute

Lotte Reiniger(director), Germany/England 1899–1981 / Cinderella 1922 / 35mm film transferred to digital: 13 minutes, black and white (tinted), silent; German/English intertitles; animator: Lotte Reiniger; producer: Hans Curlis; script: Humbert Wolfe; cinematographer: Carl Koch / © British Film institute / Image courtesy: British Film Institute / View full image

Ever After

The final theme addresses one of the most prominent themes in many tales — love, and the myriad of ways this complex emotion plays out in the genre in families, friendships, companionship, and romantic love.

Bringing together classic tales and contemporary retellings of tales such as Snow White and Cinderella, ‘Ever After’ features animations, paper cuts, theatrical costumes, impossible shoes, dresses for royalty, a coach made of sugar and a pumpkin.

Polixeni Papapetrou, Australia 1960-2018 / Flying cards #2 (from ‘Wonderland’ series) 2004 / Type C photograph on paper / 105 x 105cm / Gift of Robert Nelson through the QAGOMA Foundation 2023 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Polixeni Papapetrou Estate

Polixeni Papapetrou, Australia 1960-2018 / Flying cards #2 (from ‘Wonderland’ series) 2004 / Type C photograph on paper / 105 x 105cm / Gift of Robert Nelson through the QAGOMA Foundation 2023 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Polixeni Papapetrou Estate / View full image

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