The final bow! The exhibition “On The Wall” which toured London (UK), Paris (France), Bonn (Germany) and Espoo (Finland) has now closed its doors today, sealing a triumphant display of work inspired by Michael Jackson.
The Exhibition opened in London on June 28, 2018 and was hailed as an instant success for the general public and fans like.
This landmark exhibition explored the influence of Michael Jackson on some of the leading names in contemporary art, spanning several generations of artists across all different types of medium.
Michael Jackson is one of the most influential cultural figures to come out of the 20th century and his legacy continues into the 21st century. His significance is widely acknowledged when it comes to music, music videos, dance, choreography and fashion, but his considerable influence on contemporary art is an untold story. Since Andy Warhol first used his image in 1982, Jackson has become the most depicted cultural figure in visual art by an extraordinary array of leading contemporary artists. This was the first time that an exhibition brought together works from over forty artists, drawn from public and private collections around the world, including new works made especially for the exhibition.
Michael Jackson: On the Wall was produced with the co-operation of the Michael Jackson Estate and received sponsorship from Hugo Boss in the UK.
Michael Jackson: On The Wall in London took place at the National Portrait Gallery right in the heart of London city from June 28 to October 21, 2018. Over 82,000 people visited the exhibition which was beautifully set. You can read our review HERE.
Michael Jackson: On The Wall then moved to Paris at the Grand Palais on Champs Elysees and took place from November 23, 2018 to February 14, 2019. While the pieces were the same, the setting was more industrial, pushing fast and furious over 150,000 visitors through the doors. Check out our review HERE.
Then Bonn in Germany was lucky to have the Michael Jackson: On The Wall which took place at Bundeskunsthalle from March 22 to July 14, 2019. The setting there was perfect and had even more pieces presented in a setting that was designed to feature aspects of Michael’s wardrobe as the colour palette. Maybe one of the best setting for this exhibition! Check out our review HERE.
Whilst a “movie” was ravaging the world with its lies about Michael Jackson, coverage of the exhibition was somewhat quieter. Nicholas Cullinan, the curator and creator of the Exhibition gave a speech and statement at the opening of Bonn’s exhibition to defend the value of the exhibition and Finland was barely promoted throughout its time from August 21, 2019 to January 26, 2020. Check out our Article HERE.
While we are waiting for the final numbers of visitors from Bonn and Espoo, it seems the exhibition collectively was a huge success. Thousands of fans went to see it across the four European cities and MJVibe was pleased to have teamed up with the Exhibition, offering competitions, merchandise and sharing the news with the fans around the world. It is sad to see the end of a nearly 2 years of seeing Michael Jackson through the eyes of artists.
A big thank you to all those involved in the four cities and all the fans who have attended the exhibitions.
National Portrait Gallery – London, UK: 82,525 visitors
Grand Palais – Paris, France: 156,307 visitors
Bundeskunsthalle – Bonn, Germany: 22,420 visitors
Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) – Espoo, Finland: 88,748 visitors
Grand Total: 350,000 visitors
