I went into this exhibition liking a few Bowie songs - Rebel, Rebel and Heroes - but came out completely in love with the artist.
It shows that he isn't just a singer but a creative genius. He has so much control over every aspect of his image that it is just amazing and like all good artists his longevity is down to the fact that he changes and adapts to the world around him. Bowie is always one step in front of the curve, he was a Mod before they were cool, and was a pioneer of glam rock.
The V&A was given unprecedented access to David Bowie's archive to curate this, the first international retrospective. It features more than 300 objects including handwritten lyrics, original costumes, fashion, photography, film, music videos, set designs and Bowie's own instruments.
The really amazing thing is that you go around with headphones on, and due to sensors around the exhibition the music and commentary plays when you get within reach, which is just great as it really is an interactive experience.
It is a great exhibition really thought out and planned to perfection but after seeing how Bowie has been throughout his whole career it isn't really any surprise that he would plan his exhibition to the last detail.
You find out so much about the artist and his influence on modern day culture today be it fashion or films. After the exhibition I really noticed how Lady Gaga is influenced by him in her style and ethos.
At the end of the exhibition you enter a room with costumes and things to do with his tour as well as three massive screens playing his concerts. At one point it had the same song on three screens but from different gigs over the years, at the end the audience clapped it was a fantastic gig atmosphere.
You even see props from Labyrinth...the amazing 80s film.
There was just a great atmosphere and I really think this is one of the best exhibitions the V&A has ever had. If you kind of like Bowie, or passionately love him go and see this, try and get tickets it really is amazing.
For more on the exhibition visit: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/david-bowie-is/
For as long as I can remember I have loved Roy Lichtenstein. I wasn't always sure of the name but always loved the comic book style of paintings. I am huge fan of pop art in general along with Andy Warhol.
When I saw on the Culture Show that the Tate Modern was holding a Lichtenstein - A Retrospective exhibition I got online and bought some tickets.
The exhibition had a lot of paintings and sculptures including some of the more well known ones including Whaam! Drowning Girl and Masterpiece. Looking up close at the comic style paintings - benday dot style - they are just fascinating. The amount of detail and meticulous repetition is just mind boggling. I really don't think that pictures of the paintings do them justice, they look like screen prints or reproductions and not a piece of art.
I was really surprised to see the art I never knew Lictenstein did, I will admit I was a little naive and just thought he did the comic prints. Some of the most beautiful in the collection were the Chinese landscape portraits such as Landscape with Philosopher - which was breath-taking and kind of poetic.
Some have said that he merely copied pictures but the skill he displays in those paintings is excellent. He also ventured into sculpture with art deco pieces and his two sided bust which has a blonde on one side a a blue haired girl on the other which looks a little bit like a Katy Perry cover and again I never knew existed.
The exhibition had 12 rooms dedicated to different phases and themes of his work with 125 paintings and sculptures in total.
The Tate's website said: "The artist’s rich and expansive practice is represented by a wide range of materials, including paintings on Rowlux and steel, as well sculptures in ceramic and brass and a selection of previously unseen drawings, collages and works on paper. Room after room pays tribute to his extraordinary oeuvre, celebrating the visual power and intellectual rigour of Roy Lichtenstein’s work."
The exhibition ended on Monday but if you ever get a chance to see it again do so and the Tate already has a couple of Lichtenstein paintings which you can see for free.
I really enjoyed it and was fascinated by it all.
For more on the Tate visit - http://www.tate.org.uk/
