The Worlds of Alice. Dreaming of Wonderland

CaixaForum Madrid is hosting an exhibition from 4 April to 3 August 2025 which focuses on the origins, adaptations and artistic reinventions of Alice in Wonderland through time and different disciplines. The exhibition is the largest that has ever been held on a Victorian cultural phenomenon that has deeply penetrated today’s collective imagination.

It is the first exhibition that comprehensively examines the influence and impact of the work by Lewis Carrol, which has been an endless source of inspiration for creators of all periods.  The exhibition highlights the enduring relevance of the character of Alice, almost 160 years after her creation and presents a multi-faceted perspective of these different “worlds” in which she has been reinterpreted.

The exhibition delves into the background and context of the work and reviews its interpretations from various disciplines, such as film, visual arts, fashion and science.  With a theatrical and immersive staging, it invites visitors to enjoy a  playful experience and to reflect on the connection between Alice’s world and the contemporary reality.  It features the psychedelic poster of the Cheshire Cat designed by Joseph McHugh, which is a reflection of the way in which Alice and her characters have been reinterpreted by different artistic trends.

This exhibition created by the V&A and produced by the “La Caixa” Foundation is divided into five sections:  The Invention of Alice (literary, social and political background and context), Through the Screen (film adaptations inspired by the novels),  Alice, Gateway to Other Worlds (influence of concepts such as dreaming, space and time), Alice on Stage  (inspiration in different theatre genres) and Becoming Alice  (contemporary interpretations that have been re-imagined).  Exploring each of these aspects of the work, the exhibition follows the history of the main character and accompanies her on the journey through the novels.

Image Credits:

• Conceptual drawing by Mary Blair for the Walt Disney adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, 1951 © Disney
• Nothing but a Pack of Cards. Illustration by John Tenniel for The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. Image courtesy of  Macmillan Publishers International Ltd.
• Costume designed by Gladys Calthrop for the White Rabbit in Act I, Court Scene, of Alice in Wonderland, 1943. V&A: S.602-2012. Donation from Gladys Calthrop © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
• Cheshire Cat, psychedelic poster by Joseph McHugh, published by East Totem West, EUA, 1967. Acquired through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund © Victoria and Albert Museum, London