Outfits, musical instruments, and various items on loan from U.S. musician Taylor Swift will be showcased at London’s V&A Museum in a temporary summer exhibition. Entitled “Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail,” the exhibition features 13 installations spread throughout the museum’s galleries.
“It’s a journey around the museum,” curator Kate Bailey said.
“It follows chapters in Taylor Swift’s career and we highlight the eras and showcase objects and looks worn by Taylor across the different spaces in the museum.”
Bailey and her team had access to Taylor Swift’s personal archives to select items for the exhibition, which features theatrically staged installations placed in galleries that highlight key moments from the 14-time Grammy winner’s career. The display includes:
– Custom cowboy boots worn by a young Swift at the start of her career.
– The wig and facial hair she used in the “The Man” music video.
– Reproductions of the hand-drawn storyboards for the “Willow” music video.
– A golden microphone with a snake detail from Swift’s “Reputation” stadium tour.
– The ukulele played by Swift on the “Speak Now” world tour.
– The fisherman cap she wore on the cover of “Red (Taylor’s Version).”
“It’s been a really fast-moving project, where I got to select works from the collection,” said Bailey. “I wanted to make sure that we were able to showcase costumes, but also musical instruments, objects that kind of convey her whole career and creativity.”
“It’s the first time we’ve done a trail in this way. And it’s the first time these objects have been seen in the UK. So, it’s incredibly exciting and it’s free.”
“Taylor Swift Songbook Trail” is displayed throughout the V&A South Kensington from June 27 to September 8. According to the museum the trail takes 60-90 minutes to complete.
