David Bowie Denies Involvement in British Exhibition of His Clothing

August 30, 2012, 11:36 am

By DAVE ITZKOFF

As if it weren't bad enough that his song “Life on Mars” was not, in fact, the first song broadcast from Mars, David Bowie has briefly resurfaced on planet Earth to say he is not involved in a coming exhibition of his fashion and costumes at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

In recent days, various publications have reported that a retrospective of Mr. Bowie's famously forward-thinking attire, from his codpiece- and kimono-favoring days of “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” and beyond, was coming to the Victoria and Albert Museum next year. The Guardian, for example, reported that Mr. Bowie was to “part-curate” this exhibition and had worked with the museum's director in selecti ng its contents.

But in a post published at his official Facebook page, Mr. Bowie denied these accounts.

“Contrary to recently published reports relating to the announcement by the V&A of an upcoming David Bowie Exhibition, I am not a co-curator and did not participate in any decisions relating to the exhibition,” his statement said. “The David Bowie Archive gave unprecedented access to the V&A and museum's curators have made all curatorial and design choices. A close friend of mine tells me that I am neither ‘devastated,' ‘heartbroken' nor ‘uncontrollably furious' by this news item.”

(Mr. Bowie's language appeared to be a playful rejoinder to the British tabloids that cited anonymous sources suggesting the singer had had a falling out with the museum's curators.)

Though he is not much seen or heard from in any part of the galaxy these days, Mr. Bowie similarly reemerged last November to say that he had not licensed his work and was not involved in discussions for a British stage musical that would have been built around his catalog of songs.

A press representative for the Victoria and Albert museum said on Thursday that its official announcement of the exhibition would not occur until next Tuesday and that it would have no additional details until that time.

An American press representative for Mr. Bowie declined further comment.