Simply Madonna

Despite the tabloid headlines, divorce and speculation on plastic surgery Madonna still reigns supreme, and is probably the most recognised, enduring figure of popular culture. And Simply Madonna, the world’s largest private collection of outfits, costumes and artefacts maps out the iconic diva’s 25 year career.

Owned by Marquee Capital ( nothing to do with Madonna herself) with smaller items added by Madonna expert James Harknett the selection is as extensive as it is eclectic: multiple Evita costumes display alongside signed cheques, MTV awards, and the divorce papers that finalised the end of Madonna’s infamous marriage to Sean Penn. Despite the somewhat disappointing presentation, the show will take many a fan on a nostalgic trip as they view the plethora of era defining costumes, from tassel laden conical bras to the studded and zip heavy leather jackets that influenced a million copycat teenagers.

The focal point of the collection -  and the piece to be auctioned early next month -  is the cerise pink gown worn in the 1985 classic, Material Girl.  Although no doubt this will sell for a ridiculously huge sum, the most arresting part of the exhibition is, in fact, the vast assortment of peripheral memorabilia that supports it: the iconic Into the Groove cover, Susannah Arquette at Madonna's side, all cigarettes and leather; the Borderline single on the now obsolete 12” record, five dollars ninety nine label intact; and the array of magazine covers (a mere handful of the three-and-a-half thousand Madonna has posed for), from Time and I-D to the 40p Smash Hits, displaying Madge, in all her 80s prime with the once defining blemish that was as famous as the Marilyn Monroe mole she was emulating.

Each of these items are tiny reminders of an era in which Madonna was one of the first ( if not the first ) strong, powerful and uncompromising female solo artists and so copied and revered.Girls danced to Like a Virgin, sporting lace fingerless gloves, bleached blond hair and necklaces with crosses on them.

At the heart of it, this is an exhibition for real Madonna fans only, the style and curation not as definitive as the content itself, but for those who remember the diva as much the first time round as they did with every reinvention she ever made, this will help many girls and boys step back into the groove of memory lane.

Simply Madonna,  The Old Truman Brewery,F Block T2, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL, Until March 22nd

For more info and auction details go to:
www.marqueecapital.com/