Archive centre totally devoted to David Bowie opens at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London
Since his passing, David Bowie’s iconic status has only gotten bigger. Belgian astronomers selected seven stars to form a lightning-bolt shaped constellation (echoing the Aladdin Sane imagery) in tribute to the artist. A street named Rue David-Bowie was inaugurated in Paris to honour his cultural influence (it lies between the Jardin des Plantes and the National Library). London travellers will find a mural depicting the Starman by artist Jimmy C in the heart of Brixton (Bowie’s birthplace). And there are plans also in Brixton to build a nine-metre high metal sculpture of the iconic Aladdin Sane “lightning bolt”, opposite the Underground station.
Now comes the David Bowie Centre at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s East Storehouse – a new permanent home for Bowie’s archive that will showcase everything from guest-curated small displays to unrealised projects.
The David Bowie Centre is a working archive – complete with reading and study rooms – and containing over 80,000 items, including 414 costumes and accessories, 150 musical instruments and other sound equipment, designs, and props and scenery for concerts, film and theatre.
Recognising Bowie’s penchant for literature, the archive even features Bowie’s own study desk as part of the archive, alongside notebooks, diaries, lyrics, correspondence, and even fan mail.
The Centre is brought to life with a series of small, curated displays. Highlights include 1970s Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane ensembles designed by Freddie Burretti and Kansai Yamamoto, a film showcasing performances from Bowie’s career, and an installation tracing his impact on popular culture.
The inaugural display will feature an exclusive guest-curated display by multiple award-winning musician, producer, songwriter and Bowie-collaborator, Nile Rodgers, and Brit-Award-winning indie rock band, The Last Dinner Party. Their selections include Bowie’s Serious Moonlight tour suit, personal correspondence between Bowie and Rodgers about the 1993 Black Tie White Noise album, plus handwritten lyrics for ‘Win’ from the 1974 album Young Americans and set lists for Bowie’s 1976 Station to Station tour.
Being the popular subject that he is, it is strongly recommended that fans book tickets in advance at it is unlikely you will gain entry without a pre-booked ticket – especially during peak times.
V&A members, too, should also book ahead, although they have an allocation of tickets available for priority booking in each ticket release. To make sure your membership details are up to date, email membership@vam.ac.uk or for more information on the archive, visit the East Storehouse website.
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