Wes Anderson: The Archives

The Design Museum has been granted unprecedented access to Wes Anderson’s personal archives, which the filmmaker has built up over three decades. This is the first time most of these objects will be displayed in Britain.

This landmark exhibition will chart the evolution of Wes Anderson’s films from early experiments in the 1990s to recent productions as well as collaborations with key long-standing creative partners. Explore the design stories behind award-winning and iconic films such as ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ and ‘Isle of Dogs’.

From the melancholic charm of The Royal Tenenbaums to the youthful adventure of Moonrise Kingdom, discover how Anderson's unique vision and dedication to detail have created some of the most visually and emotionally compelling films of recent times.

Over 600 objects will bring together the director's meticulous craft of filmmaking through original storyboards, polaroids, sketches, paintings, handwritten notebooks, puppets, miniature models, dozens of costumes worn by much-loved characters, and more.

Highlights include a candy-pink model of the Grand Budapest Hotel, the vending machines from Asteroid City, the FENDI fur coat worn by Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums, the original stop motion puppets used to depict the fantastical sea creatures in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Mr Fox wearing his signature corduroy suit and show dog Nutmeg alongside miniature sets. The show will also present a screening of Bottle Rocket, Anderson’s first short film, created in 1993.

As well as finished props and sets, the exhibition will feature work-in-progress material and maquettes, and it will look at the variety of traditional and hand-made film-making techniques that the director continues to celebrate through his work, especially connected to puppets and stop-motion animation.

Background image: Wes Anderson. Copyright Searchlight Pictures. Photo Charlie Gray