Premium audio brand Sennheiser’s activation of its partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum on its’David Bowie Is’ exhibition was based around a partnership with the museum that created a unique sound experience integral to the exhibition design and success.
Sennheiser’s exhibition ‘guidePORT’ audio guide system ensured that every visitor could immerse themselves in Bowie’s music, art, and style.
The system seamlessly integrated sound material into the tour of the galleries and automatically provided music and narrative when visitors approached the exhibits.
The audio voyage culminated in a Sennheiser 3DAudio experience, where visitors were enveloped by a dramatic multi-media performance of David Bowie’s music played through hidden Neumann KH series loudspeakers.
In addition to the ‘in-exhibition’ activation, the audio brand also rolled out a promotional teaser online spot
and it also released a behind-the-scenes video.
It also prodiuced a limited edition product to celebrate the partnership in the form of a MOMENTUM special edition headphone.
The striking visual presentation of the MOMENTUM headphones are designed as a collectible, with only 500 of these ever to be produced. The headphone box set includes the V&A exhibition’s ‘David Bowie is’ book.
“David Bowie is integrated over 300 objects and costumes from the David Bowie Archive with high quality sound and video to create a seamless evocation of Bowie’s career over five decades. It was the first major UK exhibition where sound was an integral part of the interpretation. Working with Sennheiser on audio delivery was a fantastic opportunity,’ said co-curator of the exhibition Geoffrey Marsh.
‘They pushed the boundaries as to how sound can evoke, provoke and inspire visitors and they created a genuinely multi-media museum experience which was a challenging objective but one the V&A are delighted to have realised with Sennheiser’s support and expertise.”
‘We are very proud to have worked with the V&A on the David Bowie project, comments Phil Massey, General Manager at Sennheiser UK.
Comment
The exhibition was the first international retrospective of the extraordinary career of David Bowie, exploring his creative processes as a musical innovator and cultural icon.
The show was the V&A’s fastest selling exhibition to date and ran for five months between March and August – attracting 312,000 visitors.
Sennheiser continues to support the David Bowie is exhibition as it goes on tour to a number of leading venues of art and design around the world
Sennheiser has won several awards for this campaign – including Uk Sponsorship’s Arts Sponsorship Of the Year, AV’s Audio Installation Of The Year and the Project of the Year at the inaugural Pro Sound Awards.
Links
Sennheiser Website
V&A website
