An integrated exhibition and film program, 'Kiss of the Beast' is the premiere program of the Australian Cinémathèque. The ‘Kiss of the Beast’ exhibition explores the origins of the classic 1933 film King Kong through art, film, literature and popular culture from the late nineteenth century to today. King Kong’s iconic image of Fay Wray in the arms of a gorilla can be traced to the widely exhibited sculpture Gorilla carrying off a woman 1887 by French artist Emmanuel Frémiet. With this work as a starting point, ‘Kiss of the Beast’ explores depictions of the gorilla after its discovery by Western naturalists in 1847, and examines debates at that time about Darwinian theory and the relationship between humans and primates. The exhibition features more than 100 works, including posters, sculptures, paintings, prints, rare books, engravings and films, and coincides with the latest cinema remake of King Kong by New Zealand director Peter Jackson.
Read more about the exciting ten-day film program being held from 18 to 27 November.
Visit www.kissofthebeast.com for more information.
An exhibition catalogue is now available from the Gallery Store.
