Grab your camera. There’s still time to explore a pastel-drenched, perfectly symmetrical and utterly whimsical world – and get a dose of travel inspiration while you’re at it – with a visit to the Accidentally Wes Anderson photography exhibition. Currently open on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, this idiosyncratic experience won’t be in good old London forever – the doors are closing at the end of August.
The exhibition features over 200 photos that feel like they could have been plucked straight from one of the director’s distinctive films. A travel bucket list and visual adventure rolled into one, you can enjoy themed rooms, irresistible photo ops and a glorious gift shop packed with exclusive AWA merchandise.
Ever done a spot of exploring and ended up feeling like you’d stumbled onto the set of a Wes Anderson film? You’re not the only one – Accidentally Wes Anderson started life as an Instagram account created by a couple as a personal travel bucket list. The distinct visuals of symmetrical scenes, bold colours and wanderlust-inducing places soon earned them a wealth of like-minded followers and it took off. As well as the extensive collection of Wes Anderson-esque photography which will have you reaching for your passport, AWA is a digital wonderland of video guides, books, jigsaw puzzles and now, a wondrous exhibition.
There’s no shortage of photo-worthy gems to be found on planet Earth, and once you see things through a Wes Anderson-inspired lens, there’s even more. At the Accidentally Wes Anderson exhibition, you will journey through seven themed rooms, each one featuring real-life locations that encompass everything from the flamingo-pink facade of a retro cinema in Washington to a ramshackle vintage car sitting forgotten among the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. The story behind each image is also revealed, shedding some light on the history of a building or giving you a bit of background on the natural habitat. You’ll no doubt have the travel bug by the time you emerge!
What’s more, as the host city, London gets its own special room! And it’ll come as no surprise that there is a goldmine of striking architecture and historic haunts that fall under the Accidentally Wes Anderson umbrella. Plus, if you’ve got the perfect addition in mind, you can enter the AWA competition to be in with the chance to see your photo on the walls. Over the course of your hour-long exploration, you’ll also get to juice up your own Instagram with some photo ops, before treating yourself to a memento from your worldly travels with some merchandise from the gift shop.