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| Mick Jagger 1975 ©Didi Zill |
Few things touch us as music does.
Just hearing one note of a familiar, personal melody can set off a whole chain of memories, emotions and vivid pictures in our hearts and minds.
And so it also is with the exhibition ‘A Star Is Born’ showing until October 10th in the Museum Folkwang in Essen. The first major exhibition of this kind to be shown in Germany.
The show is extensive, over 300 exhibits in room after room filled with the work of the world’s great photographers - Albert Watson, Annie Leibowitz, Richard Avedon, David LaChapelle, Mick Rock, portraying rock ‘n’ roll stars, huge bands, memorable songs, unforgettable performances and quite obviously most treasured memories.
There are added treats such as a tiny Japanese disc player and album covers side by side with the original photograph that the album cover was designed from.
Music flows in places; discs are on the walls; magazines and autographs are also on show.
There’s also a really atmospheric movie - clips of classic concerts: David Byrne in his huge suit, Patti Smith, Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, David Bowie, Blondie, The Whitestripes and all.
I thought I was going on to admire great photography of well known bands and solo artists and so it was, but it was also much more than this.
Especially moving were the various members of the audience that visited the show that afternoon.
Couples and singles moved through the rooms in a kind of bubble of memories. Smiling at one another, smiling to themselves. Few words were spoken. It seemed everyone had a memory to share with these amazing photographs. Be it of a live performance they had witnessed or tune that was gliding through their minds.
These images triggered emotions in every way and so this is an exhibition of many facets. Some of the photographs are awe inspiring, some amusing, many intriguing. There are beautiful portraits, adrenaline-filled, live-on-stage shots and intimate backstage and offstage views.
Take a trip to Essen, it's easy to reach by train, and experience this all for yourself.
The museum is open Tuesdays - Sundays from 10am - 6pm. Late night opening Fridays until 10.30pm.
From Tuesdays to Sundays, and on all public holidays there is a free shuttle, the Folkwang Bus, from the south exit of Essen Hauptbahnhof to the museum every 15 minutes.
A Star Is Born entry €8
The museum also has an excellent English website that, refreshingly, is easy to find your way around.
A Star Is Born
Museum Folkwang
Museumsplatz 1
45128 Essen
