‘Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust’ brings back the ’70s with Bowie Exhibit
Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
Taschen Gallery’s Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust. The Rise of David Bowie & Co. provides unique insight into the Life of David Bowie from 1972-1973.
The TASCHEN Gallery’s exhibit titled “Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust. The Rise of David Bowie & Co.” captured the life of David Bowie (1972-1973) with unique, visually stunning photography.
The TASCHEN Gallery promotes the David Bowie exhibit on the front of the building. The gallery shows work featured in Taschen’s current art books.
Located on the busy corner of Beverly Blvd. and Crescent Heights, the TASCHEN Gallery provides an escape into the art world. Here, the gallery displays frequently changing exhibits, normally in conjunction with a recently published book by TASCHEN, a distinguished art book publishing company.
On display from Sept. 10-Oct. 30, “Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust. The Rise of David Bowie & Co.,” showcased many images in the recently published TASCHEN Collector’s Edition book “The Rise of David Bowie: 1972–1973.”
Through the work of Mick Rock, a British photographer and trusted friend of Bowie, the artwork vividly told the story of singer/songwriter David Bowie, following the release of his iconic album, “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” in 1972. Rock worked as Bowie’s official photographer and videographer during this time and traveled with Bowie on tour, providing a unique behind-the-scenes perspective for his photographs.
The photographs transport the viewer into the mysterious world of Bowie’s alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust. They highlight Bowie’s sexually ambiguous persona and his personification of ’70s self-expression.
A timeline of images on a wall inside the exhibit showcased the major events of David Bowie’s life. David Bowie was known for his odd persona, freedom of expression, wacky costumes, makeup and sexual ambiguity.
The images’ bright colors, wacky costumes and makeup mixed with the raw, candid moments were unlike most exhibits, even containing images never before seen by the public.
On the downside, this exhibit was on the smaller side and limited because it only focused on a specific era of Bowie’s career.
Flanking the David Bowie images were photographs of other 1970s luminaries, like Iggy Pop and Queen, that added to the overall affect.
The variety of formal portraits, exciting stage shots, intimate road and backstage shots made this a must see for many photography and music lovers.
Cybele Zhang joined the Oracle writing staff in 2015. She was promoted to Sports Editor as a sophomore and to Editor-in-Chief as a senior. Cybele graduated...
