David Bowie - Saxophone Session, London 1973. © Mick Rock
If you missed the V&A Museum’s much-admired 2013 David Bowie exhibition, David Bowie is in physical reality, then don’t worry, because you can now catch it in virtual reality. Because the show, which has been on an international tour for the last 6 years, is coming to your smartphone.
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) along with the David Bowie Archive, NY product studio Planeta and the V&A, are going to release a digital version of the exhibition as a virtual reality and augmented reality phone experience.
David Bowie performing to an audience of twenty at the Beckenham Arts Lab, UK at the start of his career in 1969. © Ray Stevenson
According to the press release, “The digital experience, a first of its kind, will deliver an astonishing, but deftly connected sequence of audio-visual spaces through which the work and artifacts of Bowie’s life can be experienced. 3D scans will preserve and present his fabulous costumes and treasured objects in meticulous detail. The experience may even allow a spectator to virtually step into one of Bowie’s outfits and see themselves in it.”
It also notes that, “Both the visual richness of this show and the visionary nature of Bowie and his art, makes this a particularly ideal candidate for a VR/AR adaptation.” continuing that it will be a “new experience of David Bowie is, one that enhances this iconic show with elements that only VR and AR can provide, yet remains firmly grounded in the work of this extraordinary artist.” bringing “unprecedented depth and intimacy to the exhibition experience.”
Official print from the acclaimed Duffy archive of David Bowie in his Scary Monsters Pierrot costume. This image was taken in Brian Duffy's son Chris's studio in London in 1980 and this contact sheet was then colourised by Chris. © Duffy
For the international exhibition, which at the time was a record-breaking show for the V&A (until Pink Floyds’ Their Mortal Remains surpassed it last year) the curators were given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive.
It meant they were able to fill the show with incredible items and understanding, packing it into a design that reflected the musician’s changeable personas and mutant-like ability to regenerate his career.
David Bowie performing onstage at the Falkoner Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark in April 1976 on his Isolar-1976 Tour when he was in his 'Thin White Duke' period. © Jorgen Angel
But the career-spanning show also took in not only Bowie’s iconic personas, but contextualised them too. Showing us how artists like Gilbert and George were covering themselves with make-up (way before Bowie did) to entirely transform themselves, and how a JG Ballard essay informed Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust performance of “Starman” on Top of the Pops.
So it’ll be intriguing how this enlightening insight is transposed to a VR/AR app. And at least you won’t have to queue to get in or contend with other visitors getting in the way of exhibits you’re trying to view. Plus, if you really can try on a Bowie costume, well, that’s worth the admission price alone.
![Midnight Special at The Marquee Club, London, UK in 1973. Photographer Stefan Wallgren, "This was a really special performance as it was Bowie's first since announcing his retirement a couple of months before, although this was obviously not the case, it was the last time his Ziggy Stardust alter ego was to make an appearance." © Stefan Wallgren](/media/3016/david-bowie-exhibit-07.jpg?width=1200&height=0&upscale=false&slimmage=true¢er=0.5,0.5&mode=crop "Midnight Special at The Marquee Club, London, UK in 1973. Photographer Stefan Wallgren, "This was a really special performance as it was Bowie's first since announcing his retirement a couple of months before, although this was obviously not the case, it was the last time his Ziggy Stardust alter ego was to make an appearance." © Stefan Wallgren")
Midnight Special at The Marquee Club, London, UK in 1973. Photographer Stefan Wallgren, "This was a really special performance as it was Bowie's first since announcing his retirement a couple of months before, although this was obviously not the case, it was the last time his Ziggy Stardust alter ego was to make an appearance." © Stefan Wallgren
The app is being released by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) around autumn 2018, and will be available in nine different languages.
Check out the V&A’s video ‘David Bowie is blowing our minds’ for more Bowie insight, where artists, journalists and fans look at why the musician was so influential. For more V&A Bowie go here. And check out the David Bowie is Real website here for updates on the VR/AR app.
Rockarchive is delighted to be able to offer many iconic David Bowie images as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here.
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
This print is based on a photograph from the Hunky Dory photo session shot in 1971.
David Bowie wearing a black scarf on a photo shoot by Mick Rock in New York in 2002
Aladdin Sane is the one image that has defined David Bowie and is nicknamed the 'Mona Lisa of Pop' - Shot by Duffy in his London studio.
Taken from the Scary Monsters album cover shoot by Duffy in 1980, 'the most beautiful clown in the circus' - David Bowie
Alternative shot taken from the Aladdin Sane 'photo shoot in 1973, known as 'Eyes Open' - this image was rediscovered in the archive in 2011
David Bowie wearing a two piece quilted suit designed by Freddie Burretti for the 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour.
Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo for the album artwork on David Bowie's iconic album.
Terry Pastor photographed & hand coloured the album artwork for Bowie's Spiders from Mars album.
Terry Pastor's photograph of David Bowie from the 'Hunky Dory' album cover photo session.
Photographer Terry Pastor's 'pink' variation of Bowie from the Hunky Dory album cover photo session.
Photographer Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo artwork for Bowie's Hunky Dory album.
This hand coloured print is based on a photograph by Terry Pastor from the Hunky Dory photo session.
in 1997 prior to his first ever gig in Mexico City David Bowie explores the local cultural sites including the 'Pyramids of Teotihuacan'
Taken at Freida Kahlo’s Museum known as the ‘Blue House’, in Mexico City a few days before David Bowie's first ever concert in Mexico, 1997
David Bowie onstage at his first and only ever concert in Mexico in July 1997
This was a really special performance in October 1973 as it was Bowie's first since announcing his retirement a couple of months before.
David Bowie at press conference for his single 'Lets Dance' at the Savoy Hotel in London. It was the fifteenth studio album by Bowie.
Iconic Mick Rock photograph of David Bowie during the 'Saxophone' Session in London 1973
David Bowie and Mick Ronson eating lunch on a train to Aberdeen in 1973 heading to the first gig of David Bowie's final Ziggy Stardust Tour
David Bowie captured by Mick Rock whilst applying make-up in Scotland in 1973
David Bowie looking into a mirror at Haddon Hall, Beckenham in March 1972 during an interview for Club International magazine.
David Bowie, Lou Reed & Iggy Pop during a press conference at the Dorchester Hotel, London in July 1972
David Bowie photographed by Mick Rock at Haddon Hall Beckenham in March 1972,
Contact sheet of David Bowie images taken during an interview in London, 1972. One of the images was used on the cover of Melody Maker
Newcastle City Hall, 1973, Ian Dickson eludes security to take this photograph of David Bowie performing as the legendary Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie performing at Newcastle City Hall, UK on the Ziggy Stardust Tour in June 1973
David Bowie performing to an audience of twenty at the Beckenham Arts Lab, UK at the start of his career in 1969
Performing as part of The Hype, David Bowie onstage at the Roundhouse in July 1970
Although originally taken in black and white, this image has the feel of an early 1940s movie star, hence the sepia finish I settled upon.
We drank cheap Riesling and beer (Peeva) with a bunch of soldiers we'd met the night before. They were friendly and inquisitive.
David Bowie in Ziggy makeup in 1973. This shot was taken at the Hammersmith Odeon before the last show of the tour.
I took advantage of the free time and the sublime New Mexico light and picked up my Nikon. This image of David is one of my favourites.
David Bowie photographed whilst filming the 1976 sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth.
David Bowie photographed looking out over the May Day Parade on Red Square, Moscow, 1973
David Bowie and photographer Geoff MacCormack backstage on the set of The Man Who Fell to earth.
He's playing up to my camera to keep himself amused in-between takes. It's as if he is saying: "And you are?"
David Bowie listening to a playback of 'Station to Station’ at Cherokee Studio, Los Angeles.
David chose this image from The Man Who Fell To Earth (1975) for publicity posters in the late seventies.
This was the site of the detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1945, an eerie and desolate place.
David Bowie performing live at Wembley Arena, London on the A Reality Tour in November 2003
David Bowie at home, smoking in bed in his apartment on Foxgrove Road, Beckenham in July 1969, the morning after the first moon landing.
Limited edition print of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of David Bowie's 'Rebel Rebel' vinyl single
Official Duffy photograph of David Bowie sitting with a Scottie Dog during a pre-production meeting for the Scary Monsters photo shoot
Contact sheet from the Scary Monsters photo shoot taken during the last of Duffy's 'Five Sessions' with David Bowie
Official contact sheet print from the acclaimed Duffy archive of David Bowie in his Scary Monsters Pierrot costume in 1980.
David Bowie performing onstage at the Falkoner Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark in April 1976 on his Isolar-1976 Tour.
David Bowie on the video shoot for 'Loving the Alien' at Meantime Studios, London in March 1985.
David Bowie at his flat in Beckenham in 1969. This photograph was used as the cover to 'Lover To The Dawn', a 10-song acoustic demo tape.
The Thin White Duke onstage during his Isolar-1976 Tour in Copenhagen in 1976
In 1990 David Bowie poses at a photocall for his 'Sound & Vision' Tour at the Rainbow Theatre not Heddon Street as the K.West sign suggests
The Aladdin Sane image was digitally remastered to a black and white negative format by Chris Duffy in 2012
On the video shoot for 'Loving the Alien', the opening track from Bowie's 'Tonight' album
David Bowie photographed with a mask at Frida Kahlo's house and museum in Mexico City in October 1997
David Bowie in front of a Diego Rivera mural whilst visiting the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in October 1997
A unique collection of images of Pink Floyd, one of the worlds most successful and influential rock bands.
Ray Stevenson began working as a music photographer in the 1960's, photographing prolific rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie.
Brian Duffy was one of the leading photographers who defined the look of London's 'Swinging Sixties' & elevated himself to celebrity status.
Music photographer Mick Rock may be best known as 'The Man Who Shot the Seventies', instrumental in creating many key rock ’n’ roll images.
Jorgen Angel entered the world of rock photography as a schoolboy & has been in the music industry from the late 60's up til the early 80's.
Stefan Wallgren's photographs dictated he was seldom at home, working & traveling to various concerts, fashion shows, and film festivals.
David Bowie was recently honoured with three new blue plaques that went up in went up in Maidstone, Hull, and Trident Studios in Soho.
A David Bowie statue was recently unveiled in Aylesbury, England, which is the place where Bowie debuted his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
Our acclaimed 'Silhouettes & Shadows: David Bowie Remembered' Exhibition is now on at the Lucy Bell Gallery, Hastings
Geoff MacCormack's epic Photographic Journey with David Bowie on the Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust, Diamond Dogs & Young Americans tours.
David Bowie's son, film director Duncan Jones, is launching an online book club in the musician's honour.
It's less than two months to go now until the first ever major international retrospective of Pink Floyd opens at the V&A.
