DIVA: The Art of Becoming an Icon at the Victoria and Albert Museum
We visited the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “DIVA” exhibition, which celebrates the power and creativity of iconic performers. The exhibition explores and redefines the role of the “diva” and shows how this title has changed or been adopted over the years in the worlds of opera, theatre, pop music and film. The exhibition makes it clear that the term “diva” has long been able to cover more than just female roles, as not only female performers’ clothes appear in the showcases. The “divas” status of iconic male performers such as Prince, Elton John and Freddie Mercury is also rightly recognized. The exhibition aims to provide not only an eye-catching but also an audiovisual experience, as everyone in the exhibition receives a headset that detects where you are within the exhibition and always plays the sound of the performance of the artist you are seeing. It was absolutely worth seeing the exhibition, it was a truly immersive experience.
Highlights of the exhibition:
Jean Giraudoux's 'Duel of Angels' Costume (1958): Costume designed by Christian Dior, worn by Vivien Leigh as Paola at the Apollo Theatre. Museum number: S.84-1978.
Theda Bara as Cleopatra (1917): Photograph of Theda Bara, who starred as Cleopatra in the film 'Cleopatra'.
Andy Warhol's Portrait of Marilyn Monroe (1967): Warhol's classic portrait of superstar Marilyn Monroe.
Cher, Elton John and Diana Ross at the Rock Awards (1975): Black and white photo of the three iconic artists at the Rock Awards event at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Tina Turner Flamingo Dress Sketch (1977): A drawing designed by Bob Mackie of the legendary Tina Turner flamenco dress.
Whitney Houston concert photo (1988): Houston Whitney at Wembley Arena in London in 1988.
Grace Jones at Drury Lane Theatre (1981): A special moment with Grace Jones on the stage of Drury Lane Theatre.
Lizzo Viktor&Rolf Designed Dress (2021): Lizzo in a special Viktor&Rolf dress in New York City.
Portrait of Adelina Patti (1865-70): Portrait of Adelina Patti painted by Franz Winterhalter, from 1865-70.
Maria Callas in Verdi's La Traviata (1958): Photo of Maria Callas in Verdi's La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Elton John's 50th Birthday Costume (1997): Elton John's iconic look for his 50th birthday, designed by Sandy Powell.
Billie Holiday at the Albert Hall in London (1954): Black and white photo of Billie Holiday performing in her only London performance with the Jack Parnell Band.
The “DIVA” exhibition is an unforgettable journey into the world of art, fashion and icons. Don’t miss it, you can see it at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where the world of performers and fashion come together to create new iconic art.
The exhibition can be visited until 2024.04.07.
Image source: V&A museum website
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