Review: David Bowie is at ACMI

Visit  David Bowie is at Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and you’re sure to walk away with a far greater knowledge of the creative side of the pop icon.

Not being a fan I knew little about Bowie, although naturally I had heard many of his songs.
As a result of attending the show I learnt a great deal about his development as an artist, the creative process that surrounded his work and his influence as a musician, stage performer, writer and actor.

However I still don’t know much about the man himself. I learnt a little about his childhood and how it affected his music and that his son (Duncan Jones) was a film producer, but very little else.
However judging by the crowds `bopping’ around me his music and his creative processes were of greatest interest to most!

David Bowie is was created by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London after the museum was given access to the David Bowie Archive. The exhibition (which is one of V&A’s most successful) includes Bowie’s handwritten lyric sheets, diary entries, music scores, sketches, hundreds of photographs, stage sets, rare videos, filmed live shows, more than 50 costumes, and interviews with key collaborators. There are also photos and memorabilia from his concerts in Australia.

Headphones, given out on arrival at the exhibition, provide the majority of the sound. The system is designed to automatically play the appropriate audio for each section of the exhibition.
A number of songs were played in full and during my visit there were a few people dancing along. Given I had my headsets on I couldn’t tell if they were singing as well!
The exhibition begins by looking at the cultural influences absorbed by Bowie growing up, before focusing on his creative processes and collaborations. It concludes with videos  of his performances.

If like me, you haven’t been a great fan and are converted as a result of visiting the exhibition, the entry ticket includes details on how to download a free Bowie album through Google Play.

David Bowie is on at ACMI unti November 1. The exhibition requires a time-booked entry with tickets available on-line or at ACMI in Federation Square, Melbourne. As the exhibition is proving to be extremely popular booking on-line is advisable.
ACMI is also offering a range of activities around the exhibition including Bowie on Film and Bowie Late Nights.
Jenny Burns attended the exhibition as a guest of ACMI on August 14.