Diva. This is the title of the exhibition of Victoria and Albert Museum which celebrates the icons of entertainment, their creativity and their place through time, from opera to stage, from cinema to popular music. Translation into Italian of "DEA", it is a kermesse of style, fashion, celebrity and glamour. Precious dresses worn by Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Elton John, Tin Turner, Cher and more. On display there are also paintings (Warhol among others), sketches, photographic material and an innumerable series of events that unfold throughout the month of July and beyond. The exhibition, which will remain open until 7 April 2024, is also an opportunity to analyze how the great icons of our time have, with their commitment, influenced social changes, politics, the battles for rights and feminism with materials that also include videos and live performances.
On loan for the exhibition are five key looks of Rihanna and the evolution of Rihanna's style as an artist and celebrate her ability to transform her personal image. Iconic creativity both on and off stage, blending street style and high glamour.
The clothes of the most awaited star on the red carpet
On show is a duo of looks worn by the artist al Met Gala: the 2018 couture Papal look, with jeweled robe and matching miter designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, and the 2021 black couture dress complete with beret, designed by Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga. DIVA also shows off one of Rihanna's earliest dress moments, thesheer “nude” dress worn at the CFDA Awards in 2014, drawn by Adam Selman, e embellished with over 200.000 Swarovski crystals with matching durag and gloves, as well as this year's 2023 Academy Award winner Alaïa ensemble, designed with mesh cutouts on her pregnancy bump. Finally, on display is the crown used for the cover of Rihanna's ANTI album (2016), designed by Roy Nachum, and which accompanies iconic images from Rihanna's career.
The Whitney Houston Ensembles
Whitney Houston performing at Wembley Arena, London 5 May 1988. © Photograph © David Corio
Additional headline ensembles also announced today include Whitney Houston, theblack and gold floor-length dress worn to receive her three Grammys for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, including song of the year for the single I Will Always Love You, designed by Marc Bouwer (1994); it's still Billie Eilish's Glastonbury Ensemble (2019) designed by Stella McCartney; it's a Versace deconstructed lilac dress worn by Lil Nas X on the red carpet of the MTV VMAs (2021).
The looks are showcased alongside 60 ensembles and 250 objects from the V&A collections and loans from around the world, from fashion to photography, design to costume, music and live performance. The exhibition examines how the performer has intersected with society and driven change through his platform and profile for social good and political change, including global civil rights and feminism.
Of the 60 looks featured in the exhibition, many are rare or on display for the first time, including: a theater ensemble worn by Maria Callas as Norma in Covent Garden Opera Opera Company production of 'Norma' (1952); L'black fringed dress worn by Marilyn Monroe as Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk in 'Some Like it Hot' (1959); iconic costumes designed by fashion star designer Bob Mackie, including looks worn by Tina Turner, Pink and CHER; a Louis XIV inspired look, with stately powdered wig and train worn by Elton John's 50th birthday party, designed by Sandy Powell.
Cher, Elton John and Diana Ross at Rock Awards Santa Monica Civic Auditorium 1975, various locations, Mark Sullivan 70's Rock Archive . Photograph: Mark Sullivan / Contour by Getty Images
In addition, the 'pink couture dress by Shirley Bassey by Julien MacDonald including custom wellington boots, worn on stage at Glastonbury (2007); hey “vulva pants” by Janelle Monae designed by Duran Lantink for the music video “Pynk” (2018)
Examples of divadom ephemera will also be on display, including posters, song sheets and handwritten lyric sheets as well as personal items and accessories owned by the divas. DIVA also includes examples of diva branding, highlighting the entrepreneurship and resourceful spirit of these divas as well as key works by photographers and image-makers including Sheila Rock, David Corio, Denis Regan and Nick Knight. Finally, a video wall celebrates the art of drag and its relationship with the diva.
The diva's voice is amplified by a sound experience designed by world-leading sound designer Gareth Fry. This will be provided by Tonwelt's new Spheric headphone system which includes ambisonics, 360 degree surround sound. As visitors move through the galleries, headphones will activate performances by individual divas creating an iconic and emotional soundtrack that resonates throughout the exhibition and includes key music by Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, Aretha Franklin and Josephine Baker to Dolly Parton, Adele, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Sade, Beyoncé and Madonna.
