Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers opens tomorrow at The Design Museum and I was lucky enough to have a socially distanced sneak peek.
Having not visited a museum for four months I was very excited to see this exhibition. It marks the re-opening of The Design Museum and strict protocols are in place.
Face masks must be worn and the floor is marked out into 2 metre squares around the exhibition which has also been redesigned to have small pod rooms for more social distancing. Visitor numbers will also be kept within a certain number so pre-booking is advisable and social distance queueing will be in place.
Electronic is an exhibition shown originally and curated by by the Musée de la Musique – Philharmonie de Paris.
It’s a cool journey through the origins of Electronic music. The early part of the exhibition is devoted to the mechanics and early pioneers of electro music prior to the dance era we all know but turn the corner and you hit entry to the first installation with a huge wall of a Kraftwerk concert in 3D with special glasses supplied.
There’s a lot of detail about beats and the equipment required and the history of the clubs from Detroit to Ibiza and Berlin. A few designer outfits show the general baggy and relaxed street style of prime clubbing era from 80’s – 90’s.
Two large Andreas Gursky photo prints show Berlin club goers in unimaginable closeness to how we are living now, you just look and think, oh my, the bugs!
My favourite parts were the room installations though with great lighting effects and thudding beats, ending in a room with the strongest strobe lighting I’ve ever seen in a cloud of fog with pink Michelin man suited The Chemical Brothers prancing across a giant video screen that is totally disorientating.
Entry is for over 12’s only and I would say probably older teens would get the most out of it, ex -clubbing parents will love it though. Parental guidance is advised.
A cool blue neon wall at the entrance to Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers