EXHIBITIONISM will be the most comprehensive and immersive insight into a group described by critics as ‘The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band’, taking over nine themed galleries spread across two entire floors at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery in London.
As well as over 500 unseen Rolling Stones artefacts from the band’s personal archives, the exhibition will take the public through the band’s fascinating 50 year history, embracing all aspects of art & design, film, video, fashion, performance, and rare sound archives. At the heart of the exhibition is, of course, the Stones musical heritage that took the group from being a hard working London blues band in the early 1960s to becoming inspirational cultural icons adored by millions.
EXHIBITIONISM has taken three years of meticulous planning and will offer a comprehensive insight into the band in a way that has never before been attempted. The exhibition is an interactive tour through the band’s vast artistic oeuvre, and includes original stage designs, dressing room and backstage paraphernalia; rare guitars and instruments, iconic costumes, rare audio tracks and unseen video clips; personal diaries and correspondence; original poster and album cover artwork, and unique cinematic presentations. Collaborations and work by the vast array of artists, designers, musicians and writers will be included in the exhibition – from Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey, Alexander McQueen, and Ossie Clark to Tom Stoppard and Martin Scorsese.
“We’ve been thinking about this for quite a long time but we wanted it to be just right and on a large scale,” says Mick Jagger. “The process has been like planning our touring concert productions and I think that right now it’s an interesting time to do it.”
Keith Richards adds: “While this is about The Rolling Stones, it’s not necessarily only just about the members of the band. It’s also about all the paraphernalia and technology associated with a group like us, and it’s this, as well as the instruments that have passed through our hands over the years, that should make the exhibition really interesting.”
“The scene was great down the King’s Road in the 1960’s. That was where you went to hang out to watch the fashions go by. So it is appropriate that our EXHIBITIONISM will be housed at the wonderful Saatchi Gallery,” comments Ronnie Wood.
Elsewhere Charlie Watts adds – ‘’It’s hard to believe that it’s more than 50 years since we began and it is wonderful to look back to the start of our careers and bring everything up to date at this exhibition.’’
The exhibition will start with an introductory ‘Experience’, giving visitors a look back at the high points of the band’s career through a new film, with a high-octane soundtrack. It will then be all the way back to the band’s beginnings and take you on a remarkable journey that made them the Greatest Rock n Roll Band in the World
Tickets for the exhibition are available now via www.stonesexhibitionism.com.
