V&A East museum opens
The new V&A East museum sits on the edge of Hackney. But what makes it different?
‘A Place Beyond’ by Thomas J Price outside of V&A East Museum. Photo: David Parry
How do you distill thousands of years of history into a new museum? You ask young east Londoners what they want to see in the space.
This was the approach taken by Dr Gus Casely-Hayford OBE, the director of the brand new V&A East museum at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Gus explains: “We dedicated ourselves to thinking about how we can serve the people of Hackney. I have personally visited many dozens of schools in Hackney talking to and listening to the concerns of young school goers.
“They said that they wanted an institution that reflects their needs and their aspirations.”
Set across a spacious five-storey building, V&A East museum is a showcase of creativity by national and global makers.
The work of east Londoners, in particular, is reflected throughout the beautifully designed light-filled space.
Gus continues: “Young people wanted narratives that could tell their stories in ways that really reflected their priorities. We wanted something that would speak to their hopes and dreams.
“It’s not just about collections, it’s about building trust. We hope the V&A East will be a place of refuge and reflection for many, particularly for the young.”
Visit: https://www.vam.ac.uk/
Watch a video with Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A East (photo: Lewis Vorn)
Why We Make galleries
The first two floors of the new museum are dedicated to the free, permanent ‘Why We Make’ galleries, which look at contemporary culture through the V&A’s collections.
As you enter the exhibition on the ground floor, the first thing you see is Molly Goddard’s fluorescent pink tulle dress set against a backdrop of a trio of self portraits.
A Vivienne Westwood punk outfit stands next to an 18th century Huguenot silk gown. Two Queer ballet costumes, encased in sequins, are just metres away from Tibetan Buddhist monastic dance costumes.
All the objects are dispersed throughout the space under headlines such as ‘building creative communities’, ‘breaking boundaries’ or ‘voicing dissent’.
Hackney-based artists also feature. Ron Hitchens, a tiler who has lived near London Fields for 65 years, shows off his distinctive tile collection, and photographer Tom Hunter reflects on his squatting days on Richmond Road.
As Tom explains: “When we were living in Hackney at the time, in the ‘90s, we were fighting a battle to save our community.
“The idea of taking the pictures was to…turn my work into a campaign. It was my story, my community.
Stormzy’s 2019 Glastonbury vest is on display at ‘The Music is Black: A British Story”
The Music is Black: A British Story
The jewel in the crown of the new V&A East is the largest ever exhibition on Black British music.
Featuring more than 200 objects from the V&A’s collection plus loans, ‘The Music is Black’ takes the visitor on a journey from slavery to the present day.
Visitors are given a headset, which plays sounds and tracks that reflect the part of the exhibition you’re interacting with. From gospel, folk and jazz to soul, drum and bass and garage – the exhibition covers more than 125 years of British musical history.
Highlights include Stormzy’s iconic 2019 Glastonbury vest designed by Banksy, Dame Shirley Bassey’s gold sequinned dress for the James Bond tribute at the Oscars in 2013, and drum and bass legend Grooverider’s turntable.
Closer to home, there’s a homage to the Four Aces club, in Dalston, and The Blue Note in Hoxton with the original signs
on display.