Keeping Tabs: David Bowie Exhibition at the V&A?
While reading NYTimes.com today I came across an article that caught my attention. In “David Bowie Denies Involvement in British Exhibition of His Clothing,” reporter David Itzkoff discusses an official statement from David Bowie concerning an upcoming retrospective at the V&A featuring his world-famous stage costumes and personal fashion. While no official statement has been issued by the V&A, Bowie said “Contrary to recently published reports relating to the announcement by the V&A of an upcoming David Bowie Exhibition, I am not a co-curator and did not participate in any decisions relating to the exhibition.” The issue of co-curation with subjects of upcoming exhibitions is a much contested one. Following the controversial Giorgio Armani exhibition at the Guggenheim in NYC, many museums adopted a policy of staying away from exhibitions featuring still-living artists. I’ll be interested to see the progression of the David Bowie retrospective at the V&A, if it is set to be on display in 2013 as the NY Times article states. What are your thoughts on the idea of curating exhibitions on living artists and receiving (or not) their input and/or financial support?
Read the original conversation-sparking article on the David Bowie retrospective here.
