The Australian Museum Of Performing Arts (AMPA) will officially open in Melbourne this December, with a major international exhibition showcasing spectacular costumes worn by iconic divas the world over.
Spectacular costumes worn by Rihanna, Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Cher, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and Elton John will go on display in the exhibition, which is set to feature more than 250 objects including costumes, jewellery, photography, art, and music, drawn from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) collection, Arts Centre Melbourne’s own collection, and loaned items from across the world.
Attendees will be able to see a showcase of creativity, ambition and resilience from many of the world’s best-known divas, from 19th century opera goddesses and silent movie stars, to Golden Age Hollywood legends, to today’s global megastars and pop icons.
Some of the names featured include Maria Callas, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Dame Nellie Melba, Grace Jones, Cher, Prince, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Adele, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, P!nk, Bjork, Billie Eilish and more.
“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,” V&A Senior Curator Kate Bailey says. “We are thrilled to be working with the Australian Museum Of Performing Arts and that this powerful story is being shared around the world. Viva La Diva!”
Some highlights within the exhibition include a stage ensemble worn by Maria Callas as the title role of Norma in the Covent Garden Opera Company production of ‘Norma’ (1952). . . The fringed black dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in ‘Some Like It Hot’ (1959), Rihanna’s 2018 Met Gala look by John Galliano. . . Lady Gaga’s periwinkle blue Valentino couture ballgown for the 2019 Golden Globes. . . and the red outfit worn by Kylie Minogue in the ‘Padam Padam’ video.
There’ll also be ephemera from ‘DIVAdom’ including posters, song sheets, handwritten lyrics, personal objects and accessories.
After DIVA, AMPA will also host ENCORE!, celebrating 50 years of the Australian Performing Arts Collection with 50 iconic objects selected to celebrate five decades of collecting, including the ‘L’Amour’ sign from Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s production of ‘La Boheme’ (1990), and Dame Nellie Melba’s cloak from ‘Lohengrin’ (1891).
DIVA is on at Australian Museum Of Performing Arts (Melbourne) 11 December-26 April.
