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The Museum of Modern Art in Gotham, N.Y., announced it has selected Tim Burton as the subject of its latest exhibition. The director and concept artist for live-action and animated films will be at the forefront of what will likely be a very black and peculiar affair.

According to Variety, the canonization of the 50-year-old filmmaker will entail a 700-piece collection including “paintings, drawings, storyboards, maquettes, puppets and other work created or designed by Burton.” His 14 feature films and select early shorts will be screened over the course of the exhibition’s five-month duration.

Check out the photographs below

Even Burton was shocked. Variety reports:

Burton confessed that when he first heard from museum reps, “I thought it was an elaborate joke of some sort.” The helmer, working on a new version of Alice in Wonderland for Disney, said the exhibit’s organizers excavated a huge collection of work, much of which even he had forgotten.

“It’s easier for me to think things through visually instead of verbally, so it’s like a diary in that way,” Burton said of the show. “I have so many drawings. I never look at the stuff — I just keep doing it.”

Check out photos (click for hi-res) from the exhibit via JoBlo below (try to guess what film it’s from or head over there to find out!) :

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Burton, a man whose unique Gothic style significantly influenced Hollywood in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, struck up intimate personal and professional relationships with several of his actors. Fans of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and scissors are encouraged to attend.

Do you think Burton deserves his own exhibit? Is there a current filmmaker who you think is more deserving?

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