AMY: BEYOND THE STAGE

SUBCULTURE

December 2021
Photos courtesy of the Design Museum

A brand-new exhibition at The Design Museum celebrates Amy’s life and legacy.

Ten years on from her tragic passing, there’s been a concerted effort to wrestle Amy Winehouse’s legacy away from the tabloid caricature and focus back on her incredible artistic contribution to the world. And Amy: Beyond the Stage, a brand-new exhibition at London’s Design Museum, looks set to do just that.

The Harmony section, exploring Amy’s musical influences and creative process

An installation called ‘In The Studio’, designed by set designer Chiara Stephenson and edited by Luke Halls Studio

The fashion section, displaying garments that Amy wore to key performances against a backdrop of screens examining her unique style

Working in collaboration with Amy’s family, and Studio Moross (who have previously helped create visual identities for Kylie Minogue, Parklife Festival, the MTV EMA’s and the Spice Girls’ 2019 UK tour), the Design Museum has created an exhibition which delves into the early years of her career and ‘unravels the creative process behind her music, paying tribute to her rich range of influences from Dinah Washington to Mark Ronson, Camden to ‘60s pop, Motown and jazz’.

Amy’s garments during the Frank era demonstrate her humble beginnings as a North London girl who bought looks off the rail from the highstreet, with jazz and Hip Hop inflections

An installation called ‘Finale’, designed by set designer Chiara Stephenson with animation by Studio Moross, offering visitors a performance of Amy’s song ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’

In the immediate aftermath of Amy’s death, fans wrote tribute notes to Amy on the street signs outside her house in Camden Square, North London

“Amy’s amazing voice, confessional lyrics and provocative manner made her one of the most important artists of our time,” says Priya Khanchandani, Head of Curatorial at The Design Museum. “Although outwardly, Amy defied the notion of design and was incredibly down-to-earth, she had an unmistakeable style and drew on a curated set of eclectic and diverse influences. This exhibition pays tribute to the collage of references Amy drew on.”

A pair of jeans that Amy wore to record early demos before the release of Frank (2003); she stitched ‘Sinatra Is God’ on the backside

Amy’s Grech white falcon electronic guitar

A must-see for any Amy devotee, you can expect to see outfits she wore during some her most iconic performances, handwritten lyrics and personal items that have never been exhibited before as well as her iconic blue Daphne Fender Stratocaster guitar.