The installations feature career-spanning items from the singer’s personal archive.
“Being this young is art”, sings Taylor Swift on the re-record of her album, 1989. Now, souvenirs of Swift’s youth and subsequent journey to prolific performer are on display alongside the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent art collection. ‘Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail’ opens in South Kensington this Sunday, July 27th. The series of installations will continue until September 8th, incorporating the dates that the singer will return to London for another five nights at Wembley Stadium after her run of sold out shows in June.
Just as Swift’s current world tour is split into ‘eras’ corresponding to each of her albums, the free trail features ‘chapters’ dedicated to her youth, records and re-records. The thirteen installations feature objects on loan to the V&A from the singer’s personal archive, reflecting her work and public life over the past two decades.
The installations include clothes and accessories from music videos, performances and public outings across Swift’s career, reflecting her sonic evolution in her sartorial journey. Highlights include outfits worn by Swift on the ‘Speak Now’ and ‘Fearless’ tours, as well as her costumes from the videos for ‘The Man’ and ‘Willow’. Items vary from cowboy boots worn by the singer at sixteen to the dress from her 2024 music video for ‘Fortnight’ featuring Post Malone.
Other paraphernalia, such as instruments, awards and storyboards, are also on display. The second installation includes a guitar played by the singer on the release of her first album. Later on the trail, fans will find a serpentine microphone from Swift’s ‘Reputation’ era.
The trail will take visitors on a 60-90 minute journey, concluding with a sonic experience created by Gareth Fry, who designed the V&A’s ‘Diva’ exhibition last summer. The museum has also hired four eager ‘Swifties’ to advise on the unique relationship between Swift and her fans, which is reflected in the trail through souvenirs from secret album listening sessions and film screenings. In merging the relics of Swift’s songwriting, performances and publicity, the V&A charts almost two decades of pop culture through the ever-expanding lens of one artist.
Images courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum.