Dear Bowie fans, remember the temporary David Bowie pop-up shop that simultaneously opened in London and New York? Well, at last, here's a visual tour of it. And if you're curious about the absolutely electric atmosphere of the venue, you can experience it yourself by watching (and listening!) to a brief video shot inside the "Bowie 75" store here.
“Without David Bowie, popular music as we know it pretty much wouldn't exist.” (Moby)
"David Bowie really played with ideas, and iconography and imagery. He's brilliant man. And a gentleman, too." (Madonna)
"Bowie is truly and unequivocally a cultural icon." (Terry O’Neill)
The store features an interactive mirror that virtually "dresses" people in Bowie’s most famous outfits, as well as a life-size replica of the red phonebox pictured on the backside of the Ziggy Stardust album. The best part is that visitors can use the phone to hear Bowie's voice from fascinating interview snippets.
According to Metro, Victoria Broackes, co-curator of the V&A’s "David Bowie Is"exhibition, insisted on how the shop should be designed to emphasize who Bowie was as a person: "The thing is that you can come here and buy things, but you can also just have a great time, and that’s what’s really important."
"I think there’s something very Bowie about that, he wouldn’t and never did do anything in an ordinary way, he always wanted to take it to that extra level," continued Broackes.
Lawrence Peryer, the producer of Bowie 75, said in an interview: “This is meant to be a celebration of David, for David and for his fans.”
“I have this theory that the biggest David Bowie fan hasn’t been identified yet,” continued Lawrence Peryer, the curator who put Bowie 75 together. “I keep thinking: There are Shakespeare scholars, there are Mozart aficionados. It doesn’t seem that far-fetched that the biggest David Bowie fan could be 10 years old right now. We want to nurture that. We want somebody to come and learn about him and get sucked into the universe.” (Lawrence Peryer, the curator of the experiential Bowie 75 shop for Vogue Magazine).
And that's where the incredible Reality Sound experience steps in. Without a doubt, one of the most mind-blowing attractions of the shop (and my personal favourite) is the spatial 360 Reality Audio installation. Under the motto "experience Bowie like never before," Bowie enthusiasts can step inside an immersive Sony room, equipped with powerful surround speakers and state-of-the-art sound technology.
As you sit down on the bench located in the center of the room, you’ll live the most life-changing, goosebump-generating listening session ever (I promise!). You’ll feel as if voices, instruments, and all sorts of otherworldly reverberations magically emerge from all around you. Trust me, you’ll find it very hard to leave the room.
Launched 75 days before the official 75th Bowie anniversary, on Oct. 25, and extended through January 2022, the London’s West End pop-up is strategically placed on Heddon Street, which served as the backdrop for the “Ziggy Stardust” album cover shoot, therefore where his imaginary Ziggy Stardust persona fell to Earth.
“David meant a lot of things to a lot of people, so we wanted to make sure to keep the artist front and center to find the next generation of fans,” commented Peryer for The Marketer “This is a very on-brand, authentic way to present David’s music in a modern environment. The tactile experience of commerce and content really draws a young audience.”
"I’m sure Bowie 75 pop-up shop will be a gathering space, as Heddon Street has been for many years for people who want to think about Bowie." (Victoria Broackes)
Among the Ziggy goodies on display at the Bowie 75 store is a selection of fine art prints available from some of the most legendary photographers to ever capture his uniqueness. Each print is available in several sizes and limited editions which are either stamped or signed by the photo artist. You can also browse and purchase them online from here.
“I was lucky enough to receive the call to come to the Marquee to photograph David Bowie. And I was smart enough to know to say yes.
If I had to name the most talented, enigmatic, and audacious star I ever photographed, it would have to be him” (Terry O’Neill)
📅 Bowie 75 remains open free of charge through January. 📍 14 Heddon St, W1B 4B
⏰ Monday - Saturday 11 am - 8 pm; Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm.
🚇 The closest London Underground stations are Oxford Circus (on the Bakerloo, Victoria, and Central lines) and Piccadilly Circus (on the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines). *All photos were taken by Ina/WithinLondon, unless stated otherwise :)
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