David Bowie showcase to give fans chance to ‘step inside’ late star’s mind

A number of David Bowie’s personal items will go on display in a bid to let fans “step inside” the late star’s mind.

David Bowie: On Tour, runs from November 4 until February 15 next year at the V&A Dundee.

It offers fans a chance to see a guitar played during his Ziggy Stardust era, handwritten lyrics, costumes, and other items that belonged to him.

Ziggy Stardust acoustic guitar (Jane Barlow/PA)

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It comes 53 years after his performance at Dundee’s Caird Hall, which was attended by 2,500 fans.

Harriet Reed, curator of contemporary performance at the V&A, said: “David Bowie: On Tour reveals an artist in constant motion – a restless, forward-looking mind at work beyond the music and images we know.

“From fan art and his first instrument to unrealised projects, handwritten notes and unseen sketches, over 100 highlights bring visitors up close to the ideas behind his work, including many objects that have never been displayed before, offering new insight into how his creativity took shape.

“It’s a rare chance to step inside Bowie’s imagination and experience the curiosity and daring that defined his life’s work.”

Bowie super-fan John Reilly, from Dundee, with a display that features some of his memorabilia (Jane Barlow/PA)

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The showcase is split into four different sections: photography, onstage and studio music, film and television, and his personal possessions.

Leonie Bell, director V&A Dundee, said: “David Bowie: On Tour offers something very special: the chance to encounter personal and intimate objects, notes, photographs and creative material that reveal how David Bowie thought, worked and continually reinvented himself.

“Together they provide a fascinating insight into the imagination of an artist whose influence continues to be felt across music, design, fashion, film and popular culture.

“With tickets selling fast, we are delighted to be part of a ‘Bowie Town’ celebration, with themed events and activities taking place in venues across the city.”

Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie alongside photographs by Masayoshi Sukita for the Heroes album cover (Jane Barlow/PA)

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First Minister John Swinney said: “This exhibition is a fantastic celebration of David Bowie’s legacy and offers fans across Scotland a great opportunity to learn more about his life and creative processes.

“The exhibition’s opening in Dundee, before it travels to other museums across the UK, is testament to the V&A Dundee’s strength as a cultural institution. It continues to offer significant benefits to the city and wider region, drawing in visitors and boosting the local economy.”

Tickets are available for adults at £10 with a £1 donation, and those aged 18 and under can attend for free.