There is only one word for this, and that word is “Eeewww”. David Cronenberg has a major penchant for the sick and twisted, and this major exhibition in Amsterdam looking back at the director’s film career has managed to piece together some of the best/worst moments in all their horribly brilliant glory for your viewing discomfort. David Cronenberg: The Exhibition, now showing at EYE in the Dutch capital, been put together by the Toronto International Film Festival, and features many props from Cronenberg’s back catalogue of weird sci-fi horror productions.
The key themes of the exhibition mirror those of Cronenberg’s films: technology and transformation. Naked Lunch, one of the director’s most famous films, is also one of the most compelling aspects of the show and encapsulates the Canadian’s visionary imagination. There’s Peter Weller’s Clark Nova typewriter on which he writes crazed reports for his handler, alongside the massive beetle that it turns into, as well as a thankfully restrained Mugwump. Other icky exhibits include the gristle gun from virtual reality movie eXistenZ, more insect grossness from The Fly, and some mind-blowing stuff from Scanners. EYE is also screening all 18 Cronenberg feature films in tandem with the exhibition, which runs until 14 September.
Naked Lunch (1991)
Photographer Attila Dory
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox. All rights reserved.
David Cronenberg: The Exhibition
© studioHansWilschut/EYE Film
eXistenZ (1999)
Photographer Ava V. Gerlitz
Courtesy Entertainment One
David Cronenberg: The Exhibition
© studioHansWilschut/EYE Film
Dead Ringers (1988)
Photographer Attila Dory
Courtesy of Morgan Creek
Naked Lunch (1991)
Photographer Attila Dory
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.
All rights reserved.
David Cronenberg: The Exhibition
© studioHansWilschut/EYE Film
Mugwump, dispensary model (prop)
Chris Walas Inc., Special Creatures and Effects
Stéphan Dupuis, Designer
Naked Lunch, 1991
Foam latex, internal wooden armature, paint,
plastic, metal chains, leather
Private collection
David Cronenberg: The Exhibition
© studioHansWilschut/EYE Film
Scanners (1981)
Courtesy of Laurem Productions Inc.
David Cronenberg: The Exhibition
© studioHansWilschut/EYE Film
