Much more than simply a story about fashion, the exhibition shines a spotlight on the extraordinary power and creativity of these leading women and charts how the diva concept developed.
When the exhibition, which features world-class visuals, was officially opened on May 18, HOMH managing director András Batta said, “It is a great recognition for the House of Music that we were able to bring such a grandiose, high-quality international exhibition [to Hungary].”
Speaking to the Creative Boom website, V&A curator Veronica Castro explained that the show came about when lead curator Kate Bailey decided to create an exhibition that placed the story of the female performer center stage. “This would enable us to interrogate the diva concept and reclaim the term from its original Latin meaning for the 21st century and today’s global rock and pop megastars,” she said.
Diva originally meant goddess. Today, according to Castro, “it’s become a term for individuals with attitude, a strong sense of self, dedicated to their craft and their audiences. […] These exceptionally talented, hardworking and trailblazing performers have been given a voice and a platform, with which many not only entertain but also lead, influence and inspire through their courage to question the status quo, push boundaries, shine a light on injustice and express themselves fearlessly.”
The resulting exhibition, which includes stage sets for Tina Turner, Cher and Pink, was a resounding success, with the U.K.’s daily conservative newspaper The Telegraph calling it “an immersive, memory-stirring, son-et-lumière extravaganza.”
I recently spoke to Márton Horn, HOMH Director, about how “Divas & Icons” came to Hungary.
The jacket worn by Freddie Murcury during his Queen concert in Budapest in 1986.
“We have a good professional relationship with the V&A as a partnering institution, and we’re thrilled to be the first outside London to host this fabulous, highly relevant exhibition,” Horn explained.
“I find it very significant that barely two years after the opening of House of Music, such a large-scale and internationally significant institution as the V&A deemed us suitable to be the first to present this stunning material. I’m confident the exhibition is unique in the region,” he adds.
“Divas & Icons” explores the role of female performers in society from the 19th century to the present day. Among its themes are how women can thrive in the male-dominated world of music and film and how modern performers use their voices for social and political change.
The exhibition is divided into two “acts.” In the first, the emergence of the diva is placed in the context of the 19th century. We move from opera divas to dancers such as Josephine Baker and Gabriella Lakatos, who liberated the human body, to Hollywood divas, including Zsazsa Gábor. Telling their stories personalizes how femininity and women’s rights evolved.
The second act celebrates the modern diva from six different perspectives, focusing on, as Horn told me, “revolutionary performers who, with their art, voice and identity, serve change and the development of society.”
As befits the HOMH’s remit, Horn said, “We have adapted the exhibition to include the life stories of outstanding Hungarian actresses, opera singers and performers whose lives and careers fit Kate Bailey’s original themes.”
The result is an exhibition that should captivate fans of film greats like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, divas such as Cher, Tina Turner and Madonna, and newcomers including Rihanna and Billie Eilish. But, for Hungarians, there’s an extra added attraction.
“I’m very pleased that we managed to borrow Freddie Mercury’s stage costume from Queen’s 1986 tour for our exhibition,” a delighted Horn said. “When I saw that Freddie appeared in ‘Divas & Icons’ at the V&A, I told Kate Bailey that he’s a much-loved icon here and giving him more of a presence here in Hungary would be most appropriate. Kate connected us with a collector of Mercury memorabilia who lent us the outfit.”
Mercury won Hungarian hearts when Queen played Budapest on July 27, 1986, when the country was still a communist dictatorship. On the appropriately named “Magic Tour,” the last the band played with its original lineup, Mercury sang the first verse of the beautiful folk song “Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt” (“Spring Winds Bring Water”) to the audience in Hungarian.
Memorabilia from other male stars include Elton John’s costume decorated with semi-precious stones and a pair of Prince’s iconic shoes. Hungary is represented by János Kóbor and Ferenc Demjén, known for their flamboyant stage presence.
“Divas & Icons” is only the latest success for the HOMH. In the past two and half years, it has been visited by more than 2.5 million people and rapidly become a cornerstone of Hungarian cultural life. As the Divas exhibition demonstrates, it’s also become a player on the international stage.
Well-known, highly regarded musicians, including Laurie Anderson, Bill Frisell and The Comet is Coming, have performed at HOMH. Alongside exhibitions and the performing arts, HOMH offers a musical education series.
“We offer programs that appeal to everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, to make sure that people want to come back,” Horn said.
You can learn more about “Divas & Icons” and the full program at the House of Music Hungary, including the mostly free summer concerts on its outdoor stage, on the English-language version of its website, zenehaza.hu/en.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 12, 2024.
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