Fri Sep 20 18:52:36 UTC 2024: ## Gotham Gets Gritty in ‘The Penguin’ with 1970s Inspired Design

HBO’s new series “The Penguin” dives into the murky underbelly of Gotham, taking inspiration from the gritty reality of 1970s New York City. Production designer Kalina Ivanov, known for her work on projects like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Lovecraft Country,” meticulously crafted a Gotham that feels authentically lived-in and decaying, mirroring the city’s social stratification.

Drawing on the comic “Year One,” which is set in the 1980s, the show takes a step back to the 1970s, portraying a Gotham that resembles the pre-gentrified New York of the era. Ivanov explains, “For us, Gotham is New York. We tried to relate each neighborhood in Gotham to a neighborhood in New York.”

The show’s visual aesthetic reflects the stark contrast between wealth and poverty. The affluent Falcones, who run Gotham’s criminal underworld, reside in a Gatsby-esque mansion inspired by Long Island estates. Meanwhile, the lower depths of Gotham, where Penguin operates, are inspired by the slums of Lower Manhattan, with Crown Point mirroring the real-life Lung Block, demolished in the 1930s.

“We dumped about 40 tons of dirt on that street,” Ivanov reveals, referencing the Iceberg Lounge where Penguin works. “When the water recedes, what’s left behind are piles of cars bunched up into each other by the force.”

The show’s design cleverly utilizes arches to symbolize social hierarchy. “If you think of poor people being in the shadow, being invisible, being always suppressed by the ruling class — when you’re under a bridge, you’re in the shadows,” Ivanov explains.

The series also draws inspiration from real-life events like Hurricane Sandy. Ivanov, who lived through the storm in Stuyvesant Town, explains, “It was such a tell about how power works in New York City, the invisible rules of who is on top of the food chain and who is not.” This grounding in reality adds a layer of depth and authenticity to the show’s visual world.

With meticulous attention to detail, from sourcing vintage wallpaper to incorporating period-specific design elements, “The Penguin” offers a unique and evocative take on Gotham, mirroring the city’s gritty past and its persistent social divide.

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