Records and Rebels at the V&A

Growing up, I was surrounded by the spirit of the 60s – my parents and godmother, the biggest influences in my life, grew up in that era, so I grew up listening to Portuguese revolutionary songs along with classic lullabies. I’ve been listening to The Beatles ever since I can remember, my peace sign necklace is my most prized possession, Bob Dylan’s songs move me to tears and Herman Hesse’s Siddharta was the book that made the biggest mark on me as a teenager. For years, all I wanted was to travel in time and live in the 60s, wear flowers in my hair, go to Woodstock, fight for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam war. It’ll come as no surprise, therefore, that I was thrilled to go to the V&A for the new ‘You say you want a revolution? Records and Rebels’ exhibition.

Ao crescer, o espírito dos anos 60 rodeava-me – os meus pais e a minha madrinha, as maiores influências da minha vida, cresceram nessa época, então eu cresci a ouvir a ‘Gaivota’ tanto ou mais vezes do que ‘Atirei o pau ao gato’. Não me lembro de não ouvir os Beatles, o meu colar com o símbolo da paz é o meu bem mais precioso, as músicas do Bob Dylan levam-me às lágrimas e o ‘Siddharta’ de Herman Hesse foi o livro que mais me marcou na adolescência. Durante anos, tudo o que eu queria era poder viajar no tempo e viver nos anos 60, por flores no cabelo, ir a Woodstock, lutar pelos Direitos Civis e contra a guerra no Vietname. Não será surpresa, portanto, que eu tenha ficado super entusiasmada por ir ao V&A para a nova exposição ‘You say you want a revolution? Records and Rebels’.

I booked a ticket for the first day the exhibition was open to the public – which in hindsight wasn’t the best idea, as it was really busy! At my chosen time of 13:45 I joined the queue and shortly after was given the audioguide, along with Sennheiser headphones (they are one of the main sponsors) and headed inside.

Comprei bilhete para o primeiro dia da exposição – o que, vendo bem, talvez não tenha sido a melhor ideia, estava cheio de gente! À hora marcada, 13:45h juntei-me à fila e pouco depois estava a receber o guia audio, junto com phones da Sennheiser (um dos principais patrocinadores) e a caminho da entrada.

The audioguide will automatically switch on and advances as you proceed along the exhibition, which I found really cool – despite my set being a little temperamental… The headphones help immerse you in what you are listening to, transporting you back to the 60s, through different songs and audio clips.

O guia audio liga automaticamente e avança à medida em que vamos vendo a exposição, o que achei muito bom – apesar de o meu aparelho ter mau feitio…Os phones ajudam a mergulhar no que estamos a ouvir, transportando-nos no tempo até aos anos 60, através de diferentes músicas e clips de som.

Album covers, handwritten lyrics, outfits, accessories, posters, videos and photos highlight the importance of events in those 10 years from 1967, the famous summer of love, to 1977. Women’s liberation, the Civil Rights movement with Martin Luther King (and the Black Panthers), the anti-war protests, the May ’68 student protests in Paris, the Moon landing, new music, literature, poetry, clothes – all of which shaped generations.

Capas de álbuns, manuscritos de letras, roupas, acessórios, posters, videos e fotografias ilustram a importância de eventos nos 10 anos entre 1967, o ano do ‘summer of love’, e 1977. Liberação da Mulher, os movimentos de Direitos Civis com Martin Luther King (e os Black Panthers), os protestos anti-guerra, o Maio de ’68 em Paris, o Homem na Lua, nova música, literatura, poesia, roupa – tudo coisas que moldaram gerações.

I loved seeing really cool memorabilia from this era, including George Harrison’s suit from Sgt Pepper or the handwritten lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever by John Lennon – however was quite disappointed that no photography (even without flash) was allowed inside.

Adorei ver objectos marcantes dessa época, incluindo o fato de George Harrison no Sgt Pepper, ou o manuscrito de John Lennon com a letra de Strawberry Fields Forever – mas fiquei desiludida por não ser permitido fotografar a exposição (nem mesmo sem flash).

Overall it was a great experience, and one I am keen to repeat before it ends its run – hopefully on a day with less people so I can geek out to my heart’s content.
No geral foi uma óptima experiência, que quero muito repetir antes de sair do museu – de preferência num dia com menos pessoas, para que possa gozar tudo ao máximo.

‘Records and Rebels’ will be at the V&A until the 26th February 2017 – will you be booking tickets?

‘Records and Rebels’ vai estar no V&A até 26 de Fevereiro de 2017 – vão comprar bilhetes?

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