David Bowie is…
David Bowie is no ordinary pop star. He is a musician. He is a designer. He is an actor. He is a painter. He is a performer, experimenter and a visionary. He is an artist.
The exhibition „David Bowie Is…”, held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, successfully shows the creative mind of a cultural, fashion icon that is David Bowie.
With the full access to the David Bowie Archive, where the artist kept more or less everything from about 1972 onwards, shows that - in the case of David Bowie’s creativity - no boundaries, borders or restrictions exist.
More than 300 different objects collected from his 40-year career show the diversity of his talents. The use of multiple media enables an artist like Bowie to fully communicate with the outside world. Not limited to music, Bowie uses costume, imagery, sound and film disciplines in his art.
Upon entering the exhibition, the first thing that catches the eye is a pyramid of oranges - originally designed in 1967 by sculptor Roelof Louw. Bowie’s favourite colour – orange, appeared at various occasions throughout his career: in the hair of Ziggy Stardust, the Aladdin Sane flash, the covers of Low, Heathen and Scary Monsters. RCA single labels also featured shades of orange.
The first part of the exhibition is dedicated to the young, mod-looking David Bowie – when he was still known as David Jones in London. It contains memorabilia, photos, handwritten lyrics, inspirations and ideas Bowie had gathered from books, magazines, records and other artists. All the biggest names in art and cultural history make an appearance here: Charlie Chaplin, Klaus Nomi, Oscar Wilde, Aleister Crowley, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, JG Ballard, Fritz Lang, Lauren Bacall and an astronaut Bill Anders (who was the inspiration behind the lyrics for ‘Space Oddity’). It shows creative processes from song writing, recording and producing, costumes, stage, set and album artwork. There is also a letter dated September 1965 that confirms the change of David Jones’ stage name to David Bowie. A part of the exhibition is dedicated to Bowie’s Berlin escape (where he worked with Brian Eno and Iggy) as well as to his movie career.
The second part of the exhibition is the endorsement of David Bowie’s superstardom. A large video-wall shows moments from his live performances on stage. As you move from room to room, you hear the audio guide, commentary and music soundtrack coming from the headphones. Amongst others, you’ll hear “Heroes”, “Changes”, “Ashes to Ashes” or “Life on Mars”.
Fashion plays a major role in Bowie’s work. He was always in a stage of transformation. He acted, played and even lived the lives of different characters: the Thin White Duke, Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom and Aladdin Sane. Haircuts and make-up were the manifestation of Bowie’s creative persona during each given period.
The exhibition also shows more than 60 costumes inspired by the film Clockwork Orange: “Starman” Ziggy Stardust’s bodysuits and the Union Jack coat designed by Alexander McQueen, Freddie Buretti’s quilted jumpsuit, striped bodysuit designed by Kansai Yamamoto, Pierrot - clown costume and a dandy style tailoring and colorful suits from the glam rock era.
Bowie collaborated with and was inspired by many fashion designers: Kansai Yamamoto, Hedi Slimane, Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler.
David Bowie is a style icon. He is an endless inspiration and influence for many designers: Riccardo Tisci, Jonathan Saunders, Prada, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Gucci, Dries van Noten and more. The influence of Bowie’s creative genius on music, fashion, art and popular culture for decades is impossible to measure. But we can be sure that his work will influence art for many more decades to come.
This exhibition is a once in a lifetime experience.
V&A from March 23 until August 11
