More information about DIVA
From October 26 you can visit the new exhibition DIVA in the Kunsthal. This exhibition celebrates the unparalleled power and boundless, feminine creativity of iconic artists who have challenged the status quo with their bravado and ambition.
With more than sixty costume designs from world-famous designers, worn by Maria Callas, Josephine Baker, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey, Cher, Elton John, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Björk and Billie Eilish, the exhibition shows how these divas push boundaries and have lasting influence on society.
DIVA takes you into the world of opera goddesses from the nineteenth century to contemporary pop and rock stars. The exhibition explores the term diva, which originally meant 'goddess', and how this concept has been nurtured, rejected and re-embraced by performance culture over the years. Costumes, designer looks, personal objects, photos, videos and a musical surround sound experience guide you through an impressive exhibition design by Studio Harm Rensink.
The exhibition begins with a focus on the historical context of the diva, a term used in the 19th century for exceptional female opera singers. Admire costumes from opera stars such as Adelina Patti and Jenny Lind and Maria Callas' iconic ensemble 'La Divina' from Norma (1952). Against the backdrop of changing views on femininity, power and creativity, these women took the stage and fought for equality, while also receiving criticism for breaking convention. Handwritten texts, video fragments and classical costumes show how actresses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the leading British Shakespearean interpreter Ellen Terry and the Dutch-French theater legend Sarah Bernhardt, drove the first wave of feminism. It also becomes clear how divas such as Josephine Baker, Elizabeth Taylor, Mae West, Vivien Leigh and Marilyn Monroe have shaped popular culture.
In the second part of the exhibition you enter a new world in which today's diva is celebrated. Highlights include costumes from Cher and P!nk, Tina Turner's famous 'flame dress' – designed by American designer Bob Mackie – and Shirley Bassey's pink Julien MacDonald dress (including the diamond-encrusted rubber boots), worn during a concert at Glastonbury. DIVA highlights how these contemporary artists have built on the foundations of previous generations and broken new ground in an originally male-dominated film and music world.
No fewer than five of Rihanna's iconic looks are on display, including her Pope-inspired dress from Maison Margiela, designed by John Galliano, and her all-black Balenciaga look. The singer appeared in these breathtaking creations on the steps of the Met Gala in New York in 2018 and 2021.
In the exhibition you see how modern divas emerge as astute businesswomen, and thus take control of their image into their own hands. Rihanna's makeup brand Fenty Beauty and Dolly Parton's poseable doll are just a few examples of how divas expanded their musical influence into the business world. Barbra Streisand is also featured. In 1983, she became the first woman to write, produce, direct and portray her own film. Flyers, posters and video fragments also show how revolutionary artists such as Billy Holiday and Nina Simone spoke out against racism with their songs and brought about political and social changes with their influence.
Are you going to the new exhibition DIVA? The exhibition can be seen from October 26, 2024 to March 2, 2025. Click on the button below for more information!
