When a revered artist dies as young as Bob Marley did, at just 36, the desire to learn more about them often outweighs what’s actually left behind. The music, of course, will live forever, but limited memorabilia, photographs and trinkets are pored over meticulously until their impact fades and there’s nothing new to see or learn. The genius of the new One Love Experience, stationed at the Saatchi Gallery for the next 10 weeks before heading out on a global tour, is that it doesn’t pretend to provide countless new angles on the reggae icon’s life and career. Instead, it lets you dive headfirst into the world of the artist we already know and love in the most immersive way possible.
Curated by the Marley family alongside Jonathan Shank of Terrapin Station, One Love calls itself an experience rather than an exhibition, and the distinction is important. At every turn through the corridors of the Saatchi, visitors are encouraged to put themselves into the show and leave their mark on it for whoever arrives next to enjoy.
