Exhibition Overview
The otherworldly clown costume worn by David Bowie in the groundbreaking video for "Ashes to Ashes" will be among more than 100 items on display in a new touring exhibition set to begin in Dundee later this year.
David Bowie: On Tour, opening at V&A Dundee on 4 November, will showcase costumes, instruments, and photographs, some of which have never been publicly exhibited before.
Memorabilia includes a clapperboard used for the film The Man Who Fell To Earth, and Bowie's first instrument, a Grafton Alto saxophone purchased for him by his father in 1961.
Following its debut in Dundee, the two-year exhibition will travel to Blackpool, County Durham, Hull, and Bristol.
Context and Background
The tour follows the opening of the David Bowie Centre at the V&A Storehouse in London last September, which serves as the archive's home and features a permanent display of artefacts.
The touring exhibition is divided into four sections, each offering a distinct perspective on the singer, who passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69.
Exhibition Sections
The first section, "Bowie Through a Lens," examines how photography influenced Bowie's image and identity, including works by photographers Terry O'Neill, Mick Rock, Sukita, and Brian Ward.
The second section, "All the Somebody People," focuses on Bowie as a musician both onstage and in the studio, highlighting four defining eras: Ziggy Stardust, the Berlin years, Let's Dance, and Blackstar.
The third section, "Hooked to the Silver Screen," features Bowie's performances in music videos, films, television roles, and unexpected cameos.
The final section, "I Can't Give Everything Away," explores his interest in time, documenting his creative process and legacy. This includes the stopwatch he used during songwriting, his 1988 British passport, and post-it note conversations with his archive team about items he chose to retain.
Exhibits and Highlights
Additional exhibits include costumes from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period designed by Freddie Burretti and Kansai Yamamoto, an acoustic guitar from the same era, and Bowie's keys from his Berlin apartment where he recorded the 1977 albums Low and Heroes.
Statements from V&A Dundee
Leonie Bell, director of V&A Dundee, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the exhibition.
"David Bowie has always been one of the most-requested cultural figures our audiences have wanted to see celebrated at V&A Dundee.
He left an indelible impression on the city after bringing the Ziggy Stardust tour to the city's iconic music venue, Caird Hall, in 1973, following his first Dundee performance in 1966.
This is a thrilling opportunity for fans to get up close with never-before-seen objects from Bowie's personal archive and to celebrate his remarkable story and extraordinary creative imagination."
Additional Items
The exhibition also features a number of drawings, including Bowie's storyboard sketch for the "Ashes to Ashes" music video.
Tour Schedule
The exhibition will run at V&A Dundee from 4 November until 15 February. It will then move to Showtown in Blackpool from June to September 2027, the Bowes Museum in County Durham from October 2027 to January 2028, the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull from February to May 2028, and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery from June to September 2028.
Further venues are expected to be announced.
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