A new David Bowie exhibition titled ‘The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts’ is set to launch at the new Victoria and Albert East Storehouse in Stratford in 2025. And from what we know of the contents so far, it will absolutely be worth the two-year wait.
Described as a "sourcebook for the Bowies of tomorrow", the exhibition will encompass more than 80,000 items including clothing items, handwritten letters and costume designs.
The V&A collections centre is the home to 5,000 years worth of art, design and performance – an ideal place to house Bowie’s incredible work.
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His unique sartorial agenda inspired the world
Bowie was a fashion pioneer. From his mod beginnings, to his fearless, androgynous agenda and the sartorial experimentation with his alter ego, ‘Ziggy Stardust’, his influence was unparalleled.
The fashion highlights of this new exhibition will include stage costumes from Bowie’s breakthrough Ziggy Stardust ensembles designed by Freddie Burretti in 1972, Kansai Yamamoto’s flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour in 1973 and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover in 1997.
David Bowie and Kate Moss were friends
“Bowie’s radical innovations across music, theatre, film, fashion, and style – from Berlin to Tokyo to London – continue to influence design and visual culture and inspire creatives from Janelle Monáe to Lady Gaga to Tilda Swinton and Raf Simons,” explained Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A.
The posthumous archive will also include a photo collage of film stills, over 70,000 photographs, prints, negatives, large format transparencies, slides and contact sheets taken by leading photographers and instruments Bowie used to record his music.
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David and his model wife, Iman
The V&A hosted an exhibition before his death called ‘David Bowie Is…’ in 2013 and holds a collection of the late artist’s photographs, album sleeve artwork and memorabilia in an online exhibition for whom they call ‘one of the most pioneering and influential performers of modern times'.
Bowie passed away in January 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday following an 18-month battle with cancer.
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