Designed by architecture firm EBBA, Fragile Beauty marks the debut of Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s photography collection, presented at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Key features

For the very first time, Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s photography collection is showcased at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Designed by local architecture firm EBBA, the scenography of Fragile Beauty takes visitors through a sequence of thematic sections, with the photography occupying central role. The scenography of Fragile Beauty mainly consists of repurposed materials from previous exhibition sets, which have been reused to create an entirely new experience. Over 75 percent of a Chanel showcase, for instance, was recycled and creatively reimagined to serve a new concept.

The creative placement of walls – curved, peeled, freestanding, or completely plain – determines the exhibition’s wayfinding, imposing natural pauses as it progresses to distinct themes. Following the introductory ‘Fashion’ section, the audience becomes the main character as a spotlight floods in ‘Stars of Stage’, and later navigates photography focused on the human body. Recent history captured on film offers a moment of reflection in ‘Reportage’, succeeded by colour and landscape in ‘American Scene.’ Light and colour give each room a different essence, while the size of the works gradually grows as the exhibition progresses. To address the changing scale and ensure the coherence of the different thematic concepts, EBBA introduced a seemingly suspended structure, leaving the surroundings visible and creating a layered view of the space.

FRAME’s take

In recent years, the wasteful nature of exhibitions has come into sharper focus. EBBA’s approach challenges this cycle, in which each new exhibition requires new scenography that will ultimately be disposed of. But just as in any sector, when dealing with projects with an inherent expiration date, longevity and reusability should be prioritized. A more intentional approach to exhibition can extend the possibilities of materials, allowing for their reuse for future spaces. EBBA has devised scenography almost entirely of repurposed materials from previous set designs without compromising on imagination and creativity. The second life of Chanel's set upholds that when quality and durability are the main parameters of the design, materials can take on new forms again and again.

Fragile Beauty is on show from 18 May 2024 until 5 January 2025 at Victoria & Albert Museum.