Elvis at The O2

Super exhibition at the O2 looking at the life and work of Elvis Presley.

I must admit I had low expectations as some shows at the O2 have been a bit thin but this was well designed and packed with original objects. I liked the layout of being taken through his early life and career up to the point where he bought Graceland then to space opened out to show larger objects and stage costumes with rooms off covering Graceland itself, his film career and the 1968 comeback concert.

Some of the objects were very poignant such as a box of crayons from when he was a child. Others were more significant such as a copy of the first single “That’s all Right”, the result of a jamming break at a recording session for other work.

I was interested in the section about Elvis in the army and the use the army seemed to make of him. The film of him getting his uniform and having his hair cut was quite touching. I loved the section on Graceland! He seems to have kept everything so there were old credit cards and Lisa Marie’s baby clothes. There were really good AV displays showing a walk around the house and it was a lovely touch that they had “Welcome to my World” playing.

It was good to see so many his concert costumes alongside of photos of them being worn. The embroidery and work on them was stunning. I was surprised at how slim they looked even into the early 1970s.

The show managed to get a good balance of showing the public and private faces of Elvis and made me want to read a biography as somehow the image and story has become a cliché.

Closes on 10 January 2016

Review

Evening Standard

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/exhibitions/elvis-at-the-o2-new-london-exhibition-shows-the-legend-is-still-growing-says-priscilla-presley-9835172.html

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