According to the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (Goma), the Jim Henson Company exhibition titled Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of the Jim Henson Company features over 500 objects, including puppets, props, and costumes spanning a 70-year history. Goma curator Amanda Slack-Smith states that the exhibition occupies the gallery’s entire ground floor in Brisbane, bringing rare archival items like the 13-foot-long Mr. Snuffleupagus out of the United States for only the second time.
Inside Goma’s Jim Henson Exhibition Space and Rare Archives
Spanning three distinct realms on Goma’s ground floor, the exhibition explores the making, performance, and possibilities of puppetry. According to Slack-Smith, visitors encounter familiar characters alongside lesser-known creations, such as the cast of the 2015 Thanksgiving special Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow. Several displayed puppets have never been displayed before.
The logistics of transporting massive pieces internationally remain a mystery, according to Slack-Smith. The installation includes the subterranean set of the 2022 reboot Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, featuring Doc’s workshop, the Gorgs’ garden, and the Fraggles’ cavernous Great Hall. Slack-Smith notes that the physical sets show authentic wear from multiple seasons, complete with original crew graffiti such as “Mokey for President!” written on the back of the set pieces.
Did you know? Mr. Snuffleupagus measures 13 feet from trunk to tail.
Practical Effects Versus Digital Screens in Modern Media
Moving away from the hand and rod puppetry of the Muppets, the exhibition highlights the animatronic innovations of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. According to the gallery, works from feature films like The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986) appear alongside animatronic animalia including Duchess the cat from Babe (1995) and a pigeon from The Producers (2005). Some animatronic specimens are stripped back to expose wires, gears, levers, and eyeballs.
Slack-Smith emphasizes that physical, tangible craft provides a stark contrast to modern computer-generated imagery. Describing the current media landscape, Slack-Smith states that people often feel like they are in an ocean trying to figure out what is real, making physical artifacts a vital touchstone for audiences.
Curating the Jim Henson Legacy Without Disney-Owned Characters
While the exhibition covers seven decades of output from the Jim Henson Company, certain iconic characters are missing from the floor. According to exhibition organizers, popular Muppets such as Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, and Miss Piggy are absent because the Walt Disney Company has owned those characters since 2004, not the Jim Henson Company. However, select puppets have been made to make their way over from the House of Mouse.
Behind-the-scenes puppet wranglers from Henson traveled to Australia to pose the characters before flying back to the US. Goma’s installation team utilized live feeds, interactive vision mixers, and a performance platform where patrons can try their hand at the demanding craft.
Pro Tip: Visitors to the Goma exhibition can access the back of the Fraggle Rock set to examine hand-carved and cast materials, offering a firsthand look at how professional screen sets are constructed for multi-season television production.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many objects are featured in the Jim Henson exhibition at Goma?
According to Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art, the exhibition features more than 500 objects, including puppets, props, costumes, photos, sketches, and storyboards.
Why are Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy missing from the exhibition?
Exhibition curators note that characters including Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, and Miss Piggy are owned by the Walt Disney Company since 2004, not the Jim Henson Company.
Can visitors try puppeteering at the Brisbane exhibition?
Yes. According to Goma staff, the exhibition includes a platform where patrons can try their hand at the demanding craft, along with live feeds running to interactive vision mixers.
Where was the Fraggle Rock set sourced from?
The subterranean set used in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock was shipped across the Pacific for the Brisbane exhibition.
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