images courtesy of Arts centre melbourne
phrases by ariana rigazzi
From Nineteenth century sopranos, to Golden Age Hollywood stars and Aussie pop icons.
This December, Melbourne’s brand-new Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) will open its doorways with Divaan internationally-acclaimed exhibition celebrating the celebs of movie, music and vogue who’ve redefined tradition.
Developed by London’s famend Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, the gathering showcases a few of the world’s most celebrated performers and their most iconic seems to be, together with Rihanna’s jewel-encrusted pope look by John Galliano for Maison Margiela on the 2018 Met Gala, numerous Bob Mackie designs worn by Cher and Tina Turner, and Lady Gaga’s periwinkle Valentino robe from the 2019 Golden Globes.
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Coming completely to Melbourne from 11 December 2025, AMPA’s Diva assortment options artefacts from Old Hollywood icons Judy Garland and Joan Crawford, in addition to the black fringed gown worn by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot (1959) designed by Orry-Kelly, the primary Australian to win an Academy Award for Costume Design.
In a world-first, it would additionally embrace costumes from a few of Australia’s biggest divas, together with Kylie Minogue, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Mauboy, and Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers. The unique Australian items are notably distinctive as many had been worn in reside performances, akin to Amy Taylor’s whoopie cushion costume and Kylie Minogue’s Thierry Mugler costume from her hit music video ‘Go out’.
What is the Diva exhibition?
With over 280 objects, AMPA’s Diva explores the origins of the time period ‘Diva’ (which means ‘goddess’ in Italian) and its evolution into a logo of empowerment. V&A Senior Curator, Kate Bailey, says the exhibit pays homage to the “iconic performers who with creativity, courage and ambition have challenged the status quo and used their voice and their art to redefine and reclaim the diva.”
Australian audiences can be immersed within the dazzling world of Nineteenth-century European opera stars and the artists they impressed to forge groundbreaking careers on stage and display. The exhibition’s second act shifts focus to the trendy period, and explores how modern performers have redefined the idea of the diva, utilizing their platforms to make social and political change.
On high of the primary Australian divas, opera singers Dame Nellie Melba and Dame Joan Sutherland, who had been featured within the authentic V&A exhibit, Margot Anderson, Head of Curatorial for AMPA says the method of choosing the brand new Aussie diva’s started with Kylie Minogue.
“We have labored intently with numerous artists to borrow further costumes for the exhibition. These performers are in demand all around the world and their costumes are nonetheless
very a lot a part of working wardrobes so it’s an actual deal with to have the ability to embrace them within the
present. There is little or no down time for a diva so we’re grateful for any time they can provide us
to be taught extra about life as a performer.”
When requested concerning the function of vogue performed within the amplification of the diva’s careers within the exhibition, Margot says that the hyperlinks between high fashion and efficiency go manner again to the unique divas of the Nineteenth Century, referencing Nellie Melba’s involvement with The House Worth, one of many main vogue homes of the early 1900s, which might have enhanced her standing on the Australian and worldwide stage.
“Like Melba, Kylie has always worked with fashion designers when developing her stage wardrobe,” Margot says. Visitors will see her iconic showgirl costume designed by John Galliano for her Showgirl tour in 2005, in addition to the costume she wore to open her Aphrodite Les Folies tour in 2011, designed by Dolce and Gabbana.
Other iconic Australian artists akin to Meow Meow, Reuben Kaye, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller- Heidke had been additionally chosen for his or her distinctive capacity to “bring their own lived experience to the Australian diva story.” Margo is notably excited to debut the newly-acquired leather-based jacket worn by Olivia Newton-John throughout her Las Vegas residency from 2014, which can make it’s first ever look within the Diva exhibit.
Where is the Diva exhibition?
Melbourne’s brand-new Australian Museum of Performing Arts is set to open in December 2025 at Hamer Hall’s higher terrace inside Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank.
When does it open?
The Diva exhibition opens on December 11, 2025 and runs till April 26, 2026.
To guide your tickets now, head right here.