A musical journey through time
How many exhibitions have been procured in London, you ask? I would say thousands – hundreds of thousands! Although it’s splendid to have a variety of choice there’s always that one exhibition that everyone wants to see – the gem. Whether it’s because it’s well curated or the theme is culturally appealing, only a handful of exhibitions become truly memorable. And “Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains” definitely falls under this category.
My goodness! That was a rad exhibition. It was so captivating that I actually went to see it twice. I would not call it an exhibition; I would call it an experience. It was one of a kind; so complete and so beautifully artistic that even if someone was not a fan of the band they would doubtlessly become one.
Their Mortal Remains presented an audio-visual journey that lured the spectator and took them through the evolution of one of the most iconic groups of all times. Pink Floyd is a phenomenon of a band that managed to create a visual identity that, for me, is distinct even now, all around the world. Is there anybody out there who does not recognise the famous prism spectrum? I hope not. This exhibition was so carefully curated, so thoroughly thought out and so enticingly presented that it was not possible to leave you uninterested.
One of the highlights worth mentioning was the mesmerising hologram installation that Cinimod Studio created to commemorate the album “The Dark Side of the Moon”. If you haven’t had the chance to experience it, definitely watch this video.
Everything within the “experience” at the Victoria and Albert Museum was designed to the very last detail, and as a lighting designer I can only say “hats off” to Woodroffe Basset Design for the excellent lighting scheme.
Lighting was used masterfully and because it has been pivotal to Pink Floyd, it couldn’t have had a lesser role for the visual representation of this exhibition. Light was utilised as a medium to highlight, pause, frame, introduce drama and attract attention. It was used to make the spectator admire and to captivate them. Contrast and saturation were the two key elements that led to a stunning visual result.
The most memorable element about the lighting was that it was designed depending on the mood and the dramatisation that the space required. A look at the images below can convey how completely different approaches were used for different stages of the exhibition.
It goes without saying that you needed many hours in order to take it all in, read all about the different items that were displayed and watch all available videos. But without a doubt, it was all worth it.
I read somewhere that by the end of it, the experience came close to having seen Pink Floyd live. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the privilege but I hope it came pretty close.
Some exhibitions are just for a show-off without anything to tell. But this one was full of substance about a band so influential, it has made a distinct mark on the musical world and is one that will remain iconic, possibly and hopefully, forever.
Pink Floyd became unique by utilising every possible medium: sounds, images, artwork, stage, music, spectacle and above all emotion. And Their Mortal Remains was a total wonder for the senses. Thank you Pink Floyd, we have indeed learnt how to fly.
The exhibition is going on tour so keep updated on the next location via the official Facebook site here.
Blog post by Evina Diamantara
