The unique universe of filmmaker Wes Anderson inspired two enthusiasts, who list on their Instagram account, @accidentallywesanderson, the places around the world that could resemble the set of one of the director’s films. Three years later, they have published their first beautiful book, inspired by their page.
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom … Wes Anderson’s films present a colorful, poetic, and burlesque universe, characterized by a chromatic palette of pink, blue and yellow pastels, a stylized aesthetic, and idealized landscapes with a slightly retro atmosphere.
In 2017, fans of this universe, the American couple Wally and Amanda Koval, launched the Instagram account @accidentallywesanderson, initially conceived as a list of places they would like to visit. The shots of real places, mostly taken from other Instagram accounts, are reminiscent of the world of the American filmmaker. As the months went by, @accidentallywesanderson attracted more and more followers and was noticed and approved by Wes Anderson himself. Three years and more than 1,000 publications later, the account totals over 1.3 million followers, whom they take on a virtual journey through images in hundreds of beautiful locations around the world. This success prompted Wally and Amanda Koval to produce their first-ever book, Accidentally Wes Anderson, inspired by these photographs and designed, as a travel guide to places “accidentally” inspired by Wes Anderson’s world.
Published in October and based on the collective work of 180 amateur and professional contributors, the book takes you from the mountains of Russia to Kuwana in Japan, to the Opera Hotel in Prague and through the snowy peaks of New Zealand. With 368 pages divided by continent, the book offers descriptions and histories of the places featured, as well as anecdotes for each photo. In the foreword, written by Wes Anderson himself, the director explains with humor: “I now understand what it means to be accidentally myself. Thank you,” he says. “I am still confused what it means to be deliberately me …”
Every page is like an invitation to escape on paper, while we wait to be able to travel the world without restriction. As Wally Koval points out: “In a strange way, the book comes out at a time when people can benefit most from it. Hopefully, this will give people some positivity and anticipation for future adventures.”
Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally and Amanda Koval
Foreword by Wes Anderson
368 pages, US$35
Released October 29, 2020
accidentallywesanderson.com
