|
THE
ART OF STAR WARS – A REVIEW
 ‘The Art Of
Star Wars explores the work of the many creative artists involved in
making the Star Wars films. In the beginning Star Wars was the dream of
just one man: George Lucas. He invented the world of Star Wars, its
characters and their stories. However, many people have played a part in
bringing the ideas of George Lucas to the screen. They include graphic
artists and model-makers, set and costume designers, and other artists
working with special effects, sound and music. This exhibition considers
their work.’
So runs the first
paragraph of the Gallery Guide that gets thrust into excitably sweaty
palms upon entering the new Art of Star Wars exhibition at London’s
Barbican Centre. The exhibition - reputed to offer enough authentic Star
Wars memorabilia and paraphernalia to provide even the most die-hard
Star Wars obsessive with a lifetime of Wookiee-related wet dreams –
wastes little time in whetting loins.
Dangling
tantalisingly from the ceiling in the expansive foyer, well before the
entrance to the Gallery Floor that plays host to the exhibition, is a
full size Naboo starfighter in all of its glorious yellowness, complete
with a little Anakin Skywalker, peering over the cockpit as if ready to
loose green globs of novice Jedi phlegm upon the heads of visitors. It
brings great pleasure to watch the purple cravat-wearing toffs turning
up their noses as they pass such ‘crass imagery’, making their way
to the alternative floors to spend hours stood looking at glass displays
containing half cows soaked in elephant semen and that.
Artwork
Entering the Gallery
Floor, you are presented with a sleek, well-laid out corridor full of
such gems as Joe Johnston’s original storyboards for Star Wars, a
generous sprinkling of original Ralph McQuarrie’s original concept
pieces, as well as the actual mattes used in all of the films. One
particular stand-out piece, is a CGI ‘digital matte’ from The
Phantom Menace. It highlights the absurd advances in computer design in
recent years, and how it’s ever more difficult to tell the difference
between real monsters and pretend monsters.
Models
Peppered among the
various corridors of the exhibition, in teasing transparent display
cases designed to prevent drunkards and mental-faces getting their
scabrous paws on the exhibits encased within, are a plethora of genuine
production models.  One that strikes as the most impressive, however, is
that of Amidala’s slender silver spacecraft from The Phantom Menace -
an absolute throbbing monster in dimensions when compared to the
comparatively tiny X-Wings and TIE Fighters on offer.
Doug Chiang,
commenting upon the time period in which The Phantom Menace was set has
stated that ‘It was a craftman’s era’. In contrasting the old and
new ships from all film series, it’s all too easy to fuel rumours of
some kind of ‘nuclear winter’ taking place over the course of the
forthcoming Episodes II & III. Either that, or the Galactic Senate
eased drinking laws at some stage, causing lethargy and hangovers
throughout the Star Wars universe, rendering its inhabitants useless at
washing their ships… we don’t know. But then we’re drunk
ourselves. A’gin…
Sound
This room is
dedicated to the skilful audio prowess of Ben Burtt – Star Wars’
principal sound designer. The buzzing of lightsabers, the resonating
sound of laser fire, the squelching of some angry Wookiee’s foot
stamping repeatedly on Jar Jar Binks’ head - those wonderful sound
effects that we all know and love are presented here for the patron’s
aural delight, along with some rather surprising breakdowns of their
individual constituents…
Did you know that the
sound of a lightsaber’s powerful glow being initiated is that of
electrical TV interference? Or the flapping of the Mynock’s wings on
the asteroid in The Empire Strikes Back is actually the sound of a
golden Labrador scratching its face against a tree or something like
that? Better still, R2-D2’s trademark bleeps and screeches are
actually the sound of George Lucas dragging his oiled scrotum along
well-buffed joist.
Visual Effects
According to the
Gallery Guide, the Visual Effects section takes a look at ‘how visual
effects techniques have been used to create characters in the Star Wars
films’.
Unfortunately, upon entering this section, visitors come face
to face with a complete section dedicated to that universally detested
guff-cretin – J.J.Binks. A triumph of computer animation he may be,
but he’s an example of just how grandly Lucas has been known to
misjudge the tastes of the movie-going public (for futher evidence, see
Howard The Duck).
Resource Room
This particular room
presents visitors with the opportunity to do things that every
self-confessed Star Wars geek does every day already: visit the Star
Wars websites and play Star Wars related games, such as the ever-popular
‘Stroke The Wookiee’ (or was that just us?). Alas, the computers are
firmly fixed upon the official Star Wars website, and do not permit
crafty visits to your favourite Jenna Jameson site. A selection of both
good and bad Star Wars games are on offer here, as are the more
‘educational’ titles such as Droid Works. But moving swiftly
along…
Costumes
 The costume section,
is divided into two rooms; the first containing costumes from the first
trilogy; the second containing costumes from Episode I. Standing close
to the actual costumes that these childhood heroes wore in the actual
films of the first trilogy is a strange experience, which compelled us
to remove our trousers by way of a tribute. Looking up at the original
Chewbacca costume, it is hard to believe just how tall the hairy mother
actually is. Or, more pertinently, how tall actor Peter Mayhew must’ve
been to play him. He must have a cock like a baby’s arm…
A quick gaze around
the room reveals such gems as the tiny costume as worn by the diminutive
Carrie Fisher whilst filming the Hoth scenes in Norway, both Luke and
Han’s costumes, and one of the original Boba Fett outfits.
The highlight of the
Episode I costumes have to be Trisha Biggar’s majestic designs for
Queen Amidala, and they are resolutely present here in all of their
splendour. However, that feeling of sentimentality that seems to reach
forth and cast its icy grip around the heart as you stand and look at
the costumes of the original trilogy seems to simply withdraw and
disappear as you stand before these costumes. Also, the glass screens
prevent you from touching, or ripping, the cloth.
Darth Vader
According to the
guide blurb, ‘this section contains and original Darth Vader costume,
and creates the experience of the Sith Lord’s brooding presence.’
Were there actually somebody situated inside the suit, running about
punching people, and throwing bricks at them, then the desired effect
may well be achieved. However, as you stand there – quite alone in the
room – with the Dark Lord of the Sith himself trapped in his little
cabinet, it is all too easy to make yourself look brave by swearing at
the so-called “Dark Lord”, and thus dispelling any palpable air of
menace.
Creatures
 The section entitled
Creatures also finds itself divided into two rooms, representing the
numerous creatures from the Star Wars universe in all their glory. One
room plays host to various models and concept art concerning none other
than the mighty Yoda. Standing there, trying to envisage the master of
masters swinging his little lightsabre and cutting people up bad is a
difficult task… Mr. Lucas and co. have got some task ahead should they
choose to let the little green dude cut loose in future instalments.
The second room plays
host to a controllable animatronic head of Ree-Yees – a sort of pink
thing with three eyes – as well as various masks from the films.
Seeing a suited-man stood in a mask of the Cantina band aliens from Star
Wars is a genuinely scary sight for anybody to behold: even more scary
than the thought of that Chewbacca bloke’s wanger.
Droids
The droid section is
one seemingly dedicated to C3P0. The costume shimmers under the
effectively positioned lights, and although a wonderful sight to behold
for any Star Wars freak, everybody’s favourite droid just doesn’t
seem the same when not wandering around limp-wristed, uttering inane
comments in that oh-so camp manner.
The Story
Continues…
 Even as you ease
yourself away from the exhibits, there is still plenty to look at.
Various framed promotional posters of all the films adorn the walls of
the exit, written in various indecipherable languages, as well as a
replica of Mawhonic’s pod racer from the Phantom Menace, which, as we
found out to the security guards’ chagrin, does not work.
In summary then, The
Art Of Star Wars exhibition is an essential visit for anybody with even
a passing interest in the most successful movie series of all time.
However, it is strongly recommend that the more obsessive amongst us to
prepare themselves by taking a rather large packet of Kleenex along to
the exhibition, as there is a lot of stuff present has the potential to
evoke rather strong, emotive feelings. And soiled undergarments.
The Art of Star Wars
exhibition runs from the 13 April – 3 September 2000.
www.theartofstarwars.co.uk
|
