The V&A Dundee has opened an exhibition titled David Bowie: On Tour, marking the first public display of items from the musician’s archive. The collection was acquired by the V&A in London in 2023 and represents selections from approximately 90,000 pieces housed at the David Bowie Centre. Many of the 100 items on display have never been publicly shown before.
The exhibition features significant artifacts spanning Bowie’s life and career, including his first instrument, a saxophone gifted by his father for Christmas in 1961, a stopwatch used during his songwriting process, his 1988 passport, and an advance copy of The Velvet Underground’s 1967 record. The display also includes personal correspondence, such as a letter of complaint from London neighbors in December 1973 regarding noise levels. According to the V&A Dundee’s director Leonie Bell, the exhibition provides insight into how Bowie worked and continually reinvented himself through these intimate objects.
Bowie maintained a meticulous archive throughout his early career, documenting his rise as a musician. Later, he collaborated with professional curators to organize the collection, using it to revisit abandoned projects and fill gaps where personal items had been lost or given away. The exhibition also explores Bowie’s connection to Scotland and his impact on local audiences, featuring images and memorabilia from his notable performances at venues including the Caird Hall in Dundee and various Edinburgh theaters.
The show highlights Bowie’s 1973 Ziggy Stardust tour performance in Dundee, which remains particularly significant to Scottish fans. One lifelong devotee recalled missing the concert as an 11-year-old but subsequently attended 49 Bowie performances before his death in January 2016. The exhibition documents how Bowie’s theatrical style was influenced by Scottish choreographer Lindsay Kemp during performances in Edinburgh a decade before his mainstream success, with Kemp’s influence visible in later career work including the Ashes to Ashes video.
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