The V&A has opened its doors to one of our most beloved bears,
and visitors can now get a glimpse of the Hundred Acre Woods as they step into
this enchanting exhibition. The space has been beautifully decorated with
blown-up versions of Shepard’s famous illustrations. You can step through the
door of Owl’s home, cross Poohsticks Bridge, and cosy up in a tree trunk to
listen to a story. It’s an incredibly child-friendly display but it is a
wonderful outing for adults as well, demonstrating the timeless appeal of Milne’s
characters.
You are first greeted by a display showcasing how far-reaching
merchandising for Winnie the Pooh has gone. From exercise books to dress, music
to a tea set owned by Queen Elizabeth from her childhood, there’s no escaping
the popularity of Winnie and friends. The exhibition focuses mainly on the
original artwork but does acknowledge Disney’s rebranding in 1966 and the now
familiar look they created.
The exhibition is a veritable treasure trove of delights. There are
photos of Milne with Christopher Robin and Edward bear (though Shepard in
reality based his drawings on his own son’s teddy, Growler). There are original
manuscripts and correspondence between Milne and Shepard as well as sketchbooks
that show how much work went into creating this iconic world. The main bulk of
the items on display are original drawings by Shepard, and it is clear what a
symbiotic partnership it became – there’s even an example of Milne adding an
extra scene to incorporate one of the drawings.
All in all a gem of an exhibition that is bound
to banish the January blues. It is open at the V&A until 8th
April.
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