In South Kensington, David Bowie Is has broken every record - since 2013, this has been the most highly-attended exhibition in the history of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Its success has brought it on tour, involving 11 museums throughout the world - from London to New York, it has used 500 objects to tell of the life, music and the extravagant and visionary talent of the White Duke. Seeing its draw, the museum on Cromwell Road saw no need to change, thus maintaining one of the most extraordinary collections dedicated to Bowie ever assembled. Today, it can also be admired online, with its album covers, objects and rare photos, capable of launching us right into the creative processes of one of the most influential artists of the last Century. From the pioneering works of art connected to the album Diamond Dogs to the iconic photos of Kevin Cummins and Terry O’Neil, from the scenery for the legendary Serious Moonlight Tour to the collaborations with artists and designers, Bowie’s multifaceted career is presented in its entirety. A spotlight is placed on the transversal nature of his influence - not just on music, but on art, design, theatre and contemporary culture as a whole. Explosive discoveries, a chameleon-like and ever-expansive personality allowed the musician and performer from London to reinvent himself for five decades, becoming, as declared by a survey by the BBC in 2019, “the greatest entertainer of the XX Century”.
The exhibition retraces the encounter between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Great Britain through journeys, symbols, and memories. Feather cloaks, sacred sculptures, and contemporary works come together to restore the voice of a people who crossed both the Pacific and history.
At London’s V&A, the exhibition Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art celebrates the visionary genius of Elsa Schiaparelli, pioneer of the dialogue between fashion and surrealism. From her iconic designs with Dalí to Daniel Roseberry’s sculptural creations, a journey through the boundless imagination of the century.
The Great Contemporary Theatre of Gilbert & George
The Hayward Gallery hosts a major retrospective of Gilbert & George, featuring over sixty works from 2000 to the present. Bold photo collages, vivid colours, and provocative texts trace twenty-five years of radical art. A deep dive into urban society through the irreverent lens of the iconic British duo.
At the Royal Academy, The Histories presents the most comprehensive European survey of Kerry James Marshall’s work. Over seventy pieces place Black figures at the center of the artistic narrative, redefining Western painting’s traditional canons with bold, poetic force.