This exhibition was a blast from the past! Amy Winehouse was always iconic for me as a teenager – not only did she come from my ends (Southgate) but she was an amazing talent. She spoke and wrote songs from the heart.
Visiting the Design Museum, to see this small exhibition was such a treat. It was a wonderful display of her fashion, brand and music and ultimately a celebration of her life. We tend to see celebrities as the ‘main character’ of the story – Amy definitely ended up as the main character but she started from humble beginnings.
I began to think about the facets to a character and their needs/wants. This display was curated as the journey of Amy Winehouse, she had her ups and downs but gradually rose to fame. The timeline included musical events that grounded what she liked, vocalists she admired – which alluded to her sense of fashion. All these things contribute to her character, yet she was grounded – she knew her roots. As the ‘main character’, she was adored for her talent, her style and her humbleness.
Everything from the ground up was reflective of Amy’s style – this aesthetic leans into the atmosphere of the show. Also it’s easily identifiable and connected to Amy’s branding – checkerboard tiles and hot pink wallpaper. It was interesting to see her fashion style and her music became a part who she is – not just what she wears or does.
The exhibition really did showcase a story arc of her life, including a big virtual animated performance right at the end.