Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Clothes by David Bowie, handwritten lyrics and musical instruments are part of more than 80,000 pieces on display for the first time, after they were acquired by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
The collection will be available from 2025 at the David Bowie Center for the Study of the Performing Arts.
The archive aims to reveal “the creative processes of one of the most pioneering and influential figures in the history of live and recorded music, film, fashion and more”, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s statement on Thursday.
Kansai Yamamoto designed the striped suit for David Bowie’s “Aladdin Sane” tour.
Credit: Credit: Courtesy V&A
The archive traces Bowie’s life from the start of his career until his death in January 2016.
Among the many pieces on display, you’ll find handwritten letters, instruments, trophies, album art, and much more.
According to the museum, “more intimate writings, ideas in the making, and unfinished projects, most of which have not been seen in public before,” will also be on display.
Fans will be delighted to see the handwritten lyrics of songs such as “Fame”, “Heroes” and “Ashes to Ashes”.
Image reflecting the lyrics to the song Blackout from the album Heroes, 1977.
Credit: Credit: Courtesy V&A
It follows on the heels of a 2013 exhibition by the Victoria and Albert Museum called David Bowie Is. The museum said it was seen by more than two million people as part of its international tour.
“David Bowie was one of the greatest musicians and performers of all time,” Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, said in the statement. “The Victoria and Albert Museum is delighted to become custodian of its amazing archive, and to be able to open it to the general public.”
The statement included a statement from Tilda Swinton herself, who was a friend of Bowie’s.
The 2013 exhibition, the Academy Award-winning actress said, proved that “Bowie is a fantastic example of an artist who not only does unique and wonderful work, but has an impact and inspiration beyond his work.”
A spokesperson for the David Bowie Estate welcomed the move, saying it puts the singer-songwriter “in his rightful place among many other cultural icons and artistic geniuses”.
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