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“Damn Good Cup of Coffee”: David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” Celebrates 20 Years

By Zoe Furlong

Feb 16, 2011 12:47 AM

"Walk with Bob" by Tim Biskup

"Dead, wrapped in plastic".

The image of ill-fated high school girl Laura Palmer—washed up on a misty Pacific Northwest beach, her serene face shrouded in plastic—captivated and horrified audiences 20 years ago when the pilot episode of David Lynch's television series first aired. Although Laura may have been murdered long ago,the influence of “Twin Peaks” is still alive and well.

From its inception, "Twin Peaks" was surprisingly popular given its grisly content and unmistakably Lynchian feel: quirky characters, eerie non-diegetic sound, and an unshakable aura of dread. But viewers continued to watch week after week as the series forged its own genre—a serial television drama unparalleled in artistry and horror. “Twin Peaks” formed not just its own world, but its own universe fitted with a unique cosmology. Nothing was as it seemed (especially not the owls); giants and midgets danced in and out of different realms of reality, everyone lived a double life, and everything had a mirror image, an opposite self, lurking just beneath the surface. Nothing like "Twin Peaks" had ever been seen prior to its air, and nothing has come close to it since.

Given that “Twin Peaks” was aesthetically and thematically rich, it is no surprise that the show has influenced the art and fashion world. It continues to do so. The show was the inspiration for a controversial photoshoot entitled “Fire Walk With Me” that appeared a few months ago in Vice Magazine, and it has even become the theme of an upcoming burlesque show in New York City that premieres next week. It has also inspired visual artists throughout the years. As a tribute to the show's 20th anniversary, some of this art was on display in Los Angeles this past weekend. The exhibition, "In The Trees", featured works by 15 artists as well as some original art by David Lynch himself. Though the exhibit was for two days only, we can still appreciate some of the featured artwork.

"A Damn Good Cup of Coffee" by Paul Chatem

"Cooper" by Jessica Joslin

"The New Girl at One-Eyed Jack's" by Chris Mars

Print #1 (map) by David Lynch

Now, if you haven’t already, sit down with some donuts and a steaming hot cup of coffee and dig up some old episodes online. You’re about to meet some very interesting people—and walk in their very interesting world.

All images courtesy of "In the Trees" Art Preview.