Exhibition - The Art of DC - The dawn of Superheroes

Art Ludique-Le Musée has teamed up with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Consumer Products to debut ‘The Art of DC – Dawn of the Super Heroes,’ a one-of-a-kind exhibition that celebrates DC’s rich history, unique mythology and iconic Super Heroes and Super-Villains such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Joker. An original creation by Art Ludique-Le Musée, ‘The Art of DC – Dawn of the Super Heroes’ will feature nearly 250 original drawings, more than 300 preparatory sketches for the cinema and a curated selection of authentic costumes and props used in the films.

This exhibit showcases original drawings of DC’s stable of famous Super Heroes and Super-Villains, as well as iconic scenes and landmarks, from world renowned artists including Jim Lee, Bob Kane, Neal Adams, Frank Miller, Alex Ross and many more.

Also on display is the original costumes from blockbuster DC films including the famous cape worn by Christopher Reeve in the Superman movies and Lynda Carter’s iconic Wonder Woman costume from the 1970s. Costumes and props from more recent films directed by Zack Snyder, Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher and Christopher Nolan are also showcased alongside the Wonder Woman's outfit coming from the last movie.
This unique exhibition showcases almost a century of artistic creations that followed the introduction of an innovative new genre imagined by two adolescents from Cleveland, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, the creators of Superman. First introduced in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman, the world’s first official Super Hero, quickly revolutionised the era, influencing art, literature, fashion, TV and of course films.

The figurative and narrative strength of DC Super Heroes stems from the fact that their creators didn’t just imagine a genre - they also devised all its elements. Whereas medieval stories, crime novels and westerns all use authentic references from the era, the creators of Super Heroes invented the costumes, settings, and emblems for their characters. The graphics and colour palettes of these new heroes (and their formidable enemies) went on to bring the characters to life and spark the imagination of generations of readers.

The rapid success of Superman quickly inspired other publishers and a young artist by the name of Bob Kane, who along with Bill Finger, created the character of ‘the Bat-Man,’ an extraordinary new hero whose first adventures were featured in a DC (“Detective Comics”) book the following year.
While Superman is a tireless champion dedicated to protecting life and battling injustice with his array of superpowers and abilities, Batman is a mortal man fighting crime using his intellect, physical training, and an arsenal of gadgets and vehicles developed using his vast wealth and resources. They are two opposites - the near-god and simple mortal.

However, this contemporary mythology would not have been complete without the fundamental presence of Wonder Woman, a character who became a trailblazer and symbol for peace, justice and equality. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman defined the genre on which all subsequent Super Heroes are based.

The exhibition ‘The Art of DC – Dawn of the Super Heroes’ perfectly honours this essential and visionary artistic contribution, one that has influenced its era and is now an integral part of both modern-day culture and our image of contemporary mythology.