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The museum, which hosted the critically
acclaimed "David Bowie Is" exhibition in 2013, will open The
David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at its V&A
East Storehouse in east London, where fans, school pupils and
researchers will be able to gain insight into the pioneering
British singer-songwriter's creative process.
The archive features Bowie's handwritten lyrics for songs like
"Fame" and "Heroes", sketches, letters, costumes -- including
his Ziggy Stardust pieces -- stage props, instruments as well as
intimate writings and unrealised projects, many not seen before
in public.
There are also more than 70,000 pictures, prints, slides,
negatives, large format transparencies and contact sheets taken
by famed photographers including Terry O’Neill and Helmut
Newton.
"The archive is fascinating, it follows David Bowie's career and
his life was art," Kate Bailey, senior curator and producer,
theatre and performance at the V&A, told Reuters.
"It has insights into the creative process behind so many of his
music videos, his songs, his stage shows, his theatre shows."
Bowie, a visionary rock star who straddled the worlds of music,
fashion, drama and art for five decades, died from cancer in
2016, aged 69.
"With David’s life’s work becoming part of the UK’s national
collections, he takes his rightful place amongst many other
cultural icons and artistic geniuses," a spokesperson from the
David Bowie Estate, said in the V&A statement about the
acquisition.
The museum said it secured the archive and could create the new
centre thanks to the David Bowie Estate and a 10 million pound
($12 million) donation from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and
Warner Music Group.
"What is extraordinary about the legacy is that this, we
envision, will help inspire the next generation of creative
pioneers and practitioners," Bailey said.
"We can reflect and see how Bowie changed the world and then for
other people to pick that up and run with it is great too."
($1 = 0.8260 pounds)
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alison
Williams)
(Photo: British singer David Bowie performs in
a concert during his worldwide tour called "A Reality Tour" at
T-mobile arena in Prague, June 23, 2004. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File
Photo)
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