Dialogue in the dark: David Bowie meets Nina Simone at Steve McQueen's exhibition at Guggenheim Bilbao
Steve McQueen’s exhibition “66–76–26” at Guggenheim Bilbao Museum is a sound sculpture with no image. It is a link between the decades, the emotion of love and understanding, and it also stars David Bowie and Nina Simone.
When visitors enter the exhibition room at Guggenheim Bilbao, they find themselves in a dark space, illuminated only by a few light spots and an evocative carpet. The atmosphere is enhanced by a captivating sound, as two voices resonate through the room. One is Nina Simone, singing acapella, while her friend and collaborator, David Bowie, responds in kind. The two voices share a profound emotion, a feeling of love that resonates with all who witness the performance.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker and artist, Steve McQueen, first heard the song "Wild is the Wind" in 1976, 30 years after its original recording. The song, composed by Dmitri Tiomkin and written by Ned Washington for the 1957 film of the same name, was later reinterpreted by Nina Simone in 1966 and subsequently paid tribute to by David Bowie. What McQueen admired most about these performances was the raw yearning they conveyed – the desire, the need, the urgency.
McQueen was inspired by the enduring nature of the song and the way it had transcended generations of artists. He was particularly intrigued by the story of how Bowie met Simone in 1975, when the latter's daughter wanted to attend a concert and dragged her mother along. The two met afterward, and Bowie's version of the song is seen as a homage to Simone. McQueen believes that the juxtaposition of these two recordings, separated by time and context, creates a powerful experience.
The title "66-76-26" refers to the years in which Simone and Bowie recorded the song, as well as to the year of the exhibition itself. Both performances came out during times of political turbulence, reflecting the social and historical context in which they were created. McQueen sees the exhibition as a reflection on the enduring power of love and the importance of holding onto what truly matters in times of uncertainty.
Steve McQueen's installation "66-76-26" is set to open at the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum on October 9th, his 57th birthday. The exhibition, which runs until February 13th, 2027, offers visitors a chance to engage with McQueen's artistic practice, which spans both cinema and the gallery world. Through the installation, McQueen explores themes of perception, embodiment, memory, duration, and the role of art in fostering reflection and connection.
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