Across three acts and around 300 objects, the exhibition traces a story through music that begins with the flamboyant aesthetics of glam rock and disco, goes underground with the emergence of new subcultures including punk, Northern Soul, Goth and the New Romantics, and finishes with a global pop culture primed for the digital age.
Through theatrical staging and a sonic headset experience, the exhibition shows how a generation of self-determined artists – from Sex Pistols to The Slits, Grace Jones to Blondie, Siouxsie Sioux to The Cure, The Specials to Joy Division, Wham! to Eurythmics – responded to austerity, boredom and political turbulence. Their work sparked a seismic cultural change that dovetailed with rapid technological advances and the richness of a multicultural society.
Highlight objects featured in the exhibition include Sex Pistols album artwork designed by Jamie Reid, handwritten lyrics by Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, and The Clash’s Mick Jones’ first guitar. Other highlights include photographs of Grace Jones by Andy Warhol, clothing worn by disco legend Sylvester, and glam rock costumes worn by Roxy Music’s Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry. The exhibition also features stage costumes worn by Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry and never-before-displayed stage costumes worn by George Michael.
Visitors journey through a series of multi-sensory worlds encountering fashion, photography, music videos, stage costume, designs and live performance to discover how music provided a place to escape, experiment and dream, and embrace individuality, sexuality and identity. Punk to Pop celebrates the spirit of punk and music culture, showcasing the relevance and continuum of these transformative decades.
