The Magic of Middle-earth – Basingstoke

Journey beyond the books to discover the artistic legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s incredible fantasy world
A major new exhibition celebrating the incredible fantasy world brought to life by J.R.R. Tolkien and the generations of creators it has influenced.

Middle-earth is a place both mythical and familiar. This seemingly living, breathing world came into being because of Tolkien’s unique approach to fantasy. Tolkien suggested that fantasy was a secondary world which our mind enters. He likened the experience to cleaning the windows of the consciousness so that once readers return to the familiarity of the everyday they see the wonder of the world anew.

This densely detailed world feels real, historical and has a powerful sense of the perpetual, however Tolkien’s maps suggest regions unexplored leaving room for others to imagine their own inhabitants and new adventures. This exhibition seeks to celebrate that artistic legacy.

Collector Matt Fox has brought together a magical treasure trove of over 200 rare objects. An exhibition of family fun for all ages, from little halflings to wizened wizards, immerse yourself in Middle-earth and the many ways it has been reinterpreted since Tolkien first penned those famous words, “In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit…”