Wes Anderson Commissions a Surrealist Theme Park

Wes Anderson and Mark Mothersbaugh iknowtoday.com

If anyone were meant to commission a new theme park it would be Wes Anderson. The filmmaker, known for his delightfully captivating style and loyalty to collaborators, revealed in the foreword to Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, a book accompanying Mothersbaugh’s retrospective at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, that the two have plans to build a theme park.

Art and film lovers are sure to not be disappointed as Anderson promises “hundreds of animatronic characters and creatures, rides through vast, invented landscapes and buildings, extensive galleries of textiles and sculptures, plus an ongoing original music score piped-in everywhere.”

The filmmaker clarifies that the vision for the park is to be “conceived and designed entirely” by Mothersbaugh. However, considering that the two have collaborated since Anderson’s very first film—Mothersbaugh composed music scores for Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums, and the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou—Anderson’s distinctive visual flair is sure to influence the park’s realization. We’re certainly crossing our fingers to see underwhelmed Margo Tenenbaum ride operators, and Anderson’s signature limited-color palette unifying various areas of the park.

Mothersbaugh, co-founder of the red-capped 70’s no-wave punk group Devo and longtime visual artist has a post-structuralist visual sensibility– equal parts Roy Lichtenstein pop, and ‘80s street art turned surrealist— which promises the park will be one not to be missed.

Mark Motherbaugh: Myopia is on view at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art through April 12, 2015.


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