WRITTEN IN THE STARS

Bowie has been honoured with his own asterism of stars.

Belgian radio station Studio Brussels and astronomers from the MIRA public observatory decided to develop a unique tribute to space-loving Bowie. A lightning-bolt shape was picked out of the skies to create an asterism – an arrangement of stars that when joined up sketches Bowie’s trademark sign.

“We decided that this iconic shape, from the cover of his Aladdin Sane album, should symbolically perpetuate in the stars close to Mars,” said observatory employee Phillip Mollet. “None of this is official, it’s just a very symbolic tribute to a great artist.”

Astronomers should locate the stars Sigma Librae, Spica, Alpha Virginis, Zeta Centauri, SAA 204 132, and the Beta Sigma Octantis Trianguli Australis.

Visit http://stardustforbowie.be/

Bowie has been honoured with his own asterism of stars./ PHOTO: Sukita / The David Bowie Archive 2012

Bowie at the V&A

When David Bowie is debuted at the V&A in London in 2013, it was a groundbreaking exhibition, featuring cutting-edge multimedia technology as well as 300 objects from the artist’s archive.

Created by V&A theatre and performance curators Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, the retrospective reflected five decades of the artist’s reinvention and evolution.

The technology included 7-metre-high (23-foot) video walls and multiple screens displaying carefully orchestrated stills, animations, graphics, video, sound and live feeds. Visitors were able to immerse themselves in soundscapes thanks to a 3D audio system provided by Sennheiser.

The digital part of the collection was offset by posed mannequins dressed in costumes from the Bowie archive, and video projection of live performances.
The physical archive also included handwritten lyrics, photography, set designs, album artwork, instruments and rare performance material, demonstrating Bowie’s influence beyond music – on art and design, film, theatre and popular culture.

Following the runaway success of the V&A exhibition, David Bowie is went on tour to Toronto, Canada; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Berlin; Chicago, Illinois; Paris; Melbourne, Australia and Groningen in the Netherlands – and will head to Japan in 2017.

Mannequins dressed in Bowie’s costumes at the V&A London. The groundbreaking exhibition is currently on the road/ The David Bowie Archive / v&a Museum London

With William Burroughs in a 1974 photo by Terry O’Neill/ The David Bowie Archive 2012 / V&A IMAGES