Tim Walker’s solo exhibition at the V&A is a must-see

In September 2019, the V&A museum is showcasing the largest exhibition of Tim Walker’s pictures to date. Entitled ‘Tim Walker: Wonderful Things’, over 300 items will be exhibited, encompassing photographs and the V&A objects that inspired them, short films, photographic sets and props, scrapbooks and sketches. The exhibition designer Shona Heath guides visitors on a journey through Walker’s enchanted world. Text written by Walker adds personal insight and celebrates the talents of the many collaborators who help bring his ideas to life, including stylists and creatives Katy England, Amanda Harlech and Jerry Stafford, and hair and make-up artists Malcolm Edwards, Julien d’Ys, isshehungry and Sam Bryant, among others.

“To me, the V&A has always been a palace of dreams – it’s the most inspiring place in the world,” Walker says. “The museum’s collection is so wide and eclectic, and I think that’s why it resonates with me so much.”

Walker worked with the V&A for three years, where, after spending time in the museum’s 145 public galleries and speaking to the curators, conservators and technicians behind the work, he was inspired to create new pieces that would feature in the exhibition.

“Each new shoot is a love letter to an object from the V&A collection, and an attempt to capture my encounter with the sublime. For me, beauty is everything. I’m interested in breaking down the boundaries that society has created, to enable more varied types of beauty and the wonderful diversity of humanity to be celebrated. Preparing for this exhibition over the past three years has pushed me into new territories, which is very exciting, and I’m at a stage in my life where I feel brave enough to do that.”

After making a name for himself in the 1990s, Walker became renowned for his unique approach to visual storytelling, blurring fantasy and reality too create pictures that can be surreal, lavish, humorous and touching. His famously ethereal photographs are left untouched, without the use of any post-editing platforms and will be available to see from September 2019 until early 2020 at the V&A.