London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has vowed to “reclaim the word diva” in its new exhibition.
Set to open on Saturday, June 24, DIVA will celebrate the “power and creativity of iconic performers” to “redefine the role of diva” and how the meaning of the word has changed over the decades.
The exhibition will feature items such as Marilyn Monroe’s famous dresses, Sir Elton John’s wigs and Tina Turner’s incredible stage outfits. More than 250 objects, made up of fashion, photography and music, will be showcased.
The collection, which looks at movie stars, performers and opera singers, will explore how diva, meaning goddess in Italian, has been “subverted and embraced over time”, from the 19th century to the present day.
Kate Bailey, curator of Diva, said: “The V&A, with its world-class collections of art design and performance and its mission to inspire creativity in all its forms, is the perfect stage to celebrate the multifaceted Diva.
“Today, the word diva holds a myriad of meanings. At the heart of this exhibition is a story of iconic performers who with creativity, courage and ambition have challenged the status quo and used their voice and their art to redefine and reclaim the diva.”
Among the items set to be displayed is the fringed black dress worn by Monroe in Some Like It Hot. The film in 1960 won an Oscar for costume design and earned the actress a Golden Globe.
Outfits donned by music stars Prince, Tina Turner, Cher and Pink will also feature in the exhibition.
The costume worn by Sir Elton at his 50th birthday party will also be on show. The outfit — inspired by Louis XIV — featured a wig and train. It will be paraded alongside Dame Shirley Bassey’s couture pink gown and diamante-studded Wellington boots, which she wore on stage at Glastonbury in 2007.
The exhibition is in two parts, with Act One focusing on “the goddesses of the stage and screen who have endured and shaped our popular culture today”. Act Two looks at modern-age divas such as Rihanna, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton and Cher, among others.
DIVA runs until April 2024. Tickets cost £20 and can be purchased here.
