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When I think of fairy tales, two entirely different kinds of tale come to mind. On the one hand, there is the Disney version, where the fairies are beautiful and kind, they grant wishes and sprinkle fairy dust. This version comes from the Victorian period, when they sanitised the previous Grimm brothers tales and reinvented fairies to be like the Cottingly fakes (which were present in the show on ceramics). On the other hand, I might think of the Grimm brothers, or Hans Christian Anderson where the tales are dark, grim (sorry), a little bloodthirsty, and the fairies are naughty little bastards who steal your children. The latter is the one I find the more compelling and because of this I was initially a little disappointed with the exhibition.
Since the exhibits are largely from the nineteenth and twentieth century they draw inspiration from the aforementioned Disney theme, and as such the show was in danger of being a little twee. Indeed, all the pieces were pretty rather than edgy, and there was a definite danger of drowning in the vast mounds of pre-Raphaelite hair.
This is not to say that the quality was low, and actually with inclusions from William Shackleton and William Heath Robinson whose minute drawings invite very close observation, and a number of very pretty art nouveaux pieces, the exhibition was really very enjoyable. I was also pleased to see that Arabian Nights and Aladdin made it in (and not the Disney version) for a bit of an eastern twist. In fact, once I’d got over myself and let the show speak for itself, I saw that the show did in fact touch on some pre-Victorian elements (Marjorie Miller‘s Cobwebs are Really Fairy Hammocks for example), but also that as a small and simple exhibition, it didn’t need to complicate itself by cramming too many different elements in.
The stylised pieces were great to look at and I liked the inclusion of stories which haven’t survived in today’s culture. There was a good mix of styles, size and media. The most important thing though was that I came out of that little room feeling cheerful. When we’re surrounded by tediously sex-obsessed vampires and Zac Efron, sometimes its nice to go into that little room, sink into a world of once upon a dream and pretend that it’s not really happening. Maybe, just maybe, cobwebs really are fairy hammocks.
The end.
Once Upon a Time runs until 10th April at York Art Gallery.
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