The exhibition 'Bowie: Unseen | Unheard' is currently taking place in Venice, Italy, showcasing approximately 800 photographs of David Bowie, including both well-known shots and materials that have never been shown before. This exhibition is part of the Venice Immersive program, section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival dedicated to immersive audiovisual projects, and will be available until September 12th.
These images belong to the archive of British photographer Dennis O'Riigan, who began documenting Bowie in 1983 during the Serious Moonlight world tour. Throughout his career, O'Riigan collected over 10,000 photographs of the singer, taken at more than 200 concerts, making him the most active photographer to document Bowie.
The selection presented in Venice covers various stages of the musician's creative journey. In addition to performance shots, the exhibition includes scenes from behind the scenes and daily life. For example, Bowie is captured relaxing on a boat in Bangkok, in front of the Berlin Wall, and in a shopping center in Singapore.
The exhibition transforms the photo archive into an audiovisual installation. Images are projected onto eight screens while a sound system plays Bowie's songs, new compositions by Mick Garrison, his long-time pianist, as well as O'Riigan's commentary on these recordings.
The sound design was executed by composer and designer Nick Ryan using L-ISA spatial audio technology developed by L-Acoustics. This system distributes sounds throughout the hall space, creating a soundscape that accompanies the photographs and helps convey the atmosphere of each captured moment.
The composition traces different stages of the performance, starting from the anticipation before Bowie takes the stage, through the concerts themselves, and backstage scenes. There is also a space reserved for more intimate moments, showing the singer away from large crowds.
A visit takes about 25 minutes and is limited to 25 people per session. No virtual reality glasses or other equipment are required for viewing; visitors sit in the center of the hall and observe the projections around them.
The installation is part of the Venice Immersive program, which marks a decade in 2026 and unites 69 works in augmented reality and other forms of immersive storytelling.
O'Riigan started his career photographing the London punk scene in the late 1970s. His interest in photography arose after attending Bowie's final performance as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973. Ten years later, he was chosen as the official photographer for the Serious Moonlight tour. Thanks to the freedom of movement and the ability to capture different moments of the trip, O'Riigan documented the singer both on and off stage.
The collaboration continued in subsequent tours, making Bowie the artist with whom the photographer spent the most time. This archive subsequently formed the basis for books such as Ricochet: David Bowie 1983 (2018) and David Bowie by Denis O’Regan (published in 2025).
While preparing the exhibition, O'Riigan reviewed his archive again and discovered photographs he had forgotten to take or was unaware were still stored. Some of these are now included in the Bowie: Unseen | Unheard collection.
The exhibition is located in Venice Immersive Island (Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio), opposite Riva di Corinto, in Lido di Venezia, Italy. It is open to visitors until September 12, 2026. Entry is free for accredited participants of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. Individuals over 18 interested solely in immersive experiences can request Venice Immersive accreditation, available for 2 days (€40), 5 days (€60), or 11 days (€100). Tickets are available on the official website.