David Bowie, A Work Of Art
written by Star Girl
There is no denying that David Bowie was immensly talented and had an admirable work ethic to master his crafts, even if sometimes he claimed that there were “some songs you really don’t want to write”. Ironically enough, I am not here to discuss his brilliant music this time around. (Maybe next time. Any requests?)
Last November, an art exhibit featuring photographs of Bowie courtesy of famous rockstar photographer and close friend of our beloved Starman himself, Mick Rock, launched in Los Angeles, CA. The exhibit, then titled “The Rise of David Bowie & Co.”, focused on the earlier years of David’s career as the infamous Ziggy Stardust.
Because not everyone is local to Southern California to attend said exhibit or the tribute exhibit of the same show (“Starman Remembered”), I thought I’d share some personal photographs of a couple of my visits to the TASCHEN Gallery. Keep in mind that one of the many reasons we adored our fallen Starman is that he always kept us guessing…which means there were previously unseen photos on display. If not in the gallery itself, in Mick Rock‘s gorgeous TASCHEN coffee table book “The Rise Of David Bowie”.
Another special exhibit hit Los Angeles for a limited time at Mr. MusicHead Gallery called “Bowie Unseen by Markus Klinko”. Markus Klinko photographed David Bowie in 2001, some of his work featured in David’s 2002 album, Heathen. This exhibit included 20 never-before-seen photographs of Bowie, some with a pack of wolves. The added bonus is that a partial amount of the proceeds from print sales will be donated to Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research To purchase prints, you can click HERE
Something fun to point out is that one of the gallery workers at Mr. MusicHead was impressed that someone as young as I am knew about Bowie’s personal artwork, let alone had the guts to get a self portrait of his tattooed onto my body. Although I do not believe in entitlement as a millennial who happens to love classic rock, there is nothing more that I love than bonding with various generations of human beings over music. Music is an universal language that we all understand. It is something that will be passed down to my children, your children, his children, her children, their children…for many, many centuries to come.
So David, dearest David, wherever you are in the afterlife, know that you will live forever in your art. We miss you.