BOWIE: From Major Tom to Major Arcana

The picture “Bowie drawing the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and its stations | Los Angeles, 1974 | Copyright Steve Schapiro”

The show will present a case study of the rare set of five silkscreen prints known as the Arcane Series, created by David Bowie in November 1975 – an intriguing window into the alternative influences of the mystical and esoteric that pervaded the singers private and public personas of the late 1960’s, through the 1970’s.

The series reflect iconography that manifests boldly in such songs as Quicksand (1971), Station to Station (1976) and fascinatingly also Lazarus, from Bowie’s final album, Blackstar (2016).

This life-long spiritual journey takes us into the study of Zen Buddhism, the teachings of Kabbalah, tarot cards, divination and wider occultism, reconstructing the complicated network of imagery that drove Bowie’s quest for higher answers.

In addition to these rarely exhibited works, unseen by the public since Bowie’s first solo exhibition David Bowie: New Afro/Pagan and Work 1975-1995 at The Gallery, Cork Street, 1995, we will also be showing drawing, painting and iconic photography from the many fruitful collaborations with leading artists across the years.

A private view will be held on Thursday 9th January 2020, by invitation only.

Supporting 'Friends of the Children of Orissa Charity'