Material includes handwritten lyrics, letters, sheet music, instruments and awards, as well as Ziggy Stardust costumes from 1972
More than 80,000 items from the archives of David Bowie were delivered to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which should open an area dedicated to the artist in 2025, according to the British newspaper The Independent.
The exhibition will cover six decades of his career and will offer unprecedented access “to the creative process of a music innovator, a cultural icon”, both to the general public and to researchers, highlights the museum in a statement. The objects will be displayed at the David Bowie Center for the Study of the Performing Arts, to be opened at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
The material includes handwritten lyrics, letters, sheet music, instruments and awards, as well as Ziggy Stardust’s 1972 costumes, creations for the 1973 Aladdin Sane tour, and the Union Jack jacket designed by bowie and Alexander McQueen for the album cover earthling (1997). The archives of the artist, who died in 2016, include 70,000 photographs, prints and negatives.
“Bowie’s radical innovations through music, theatre, film, fashion and style (…) continue to have a great influence on design and visual culture and inspire creators such as Janelle Monáe, Lady Gaga, Tilda Swinton or Raf Simons”, said museum director Tristram Hunt.
The acquisition of the archive and the creation of the center took place after a donation of 10 million pounds (63.5 million reais at current exchange rates) from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the Warner Music Group, and also with the authorization of the artist’s estate.
Source: Rollingstone
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