"Coming soon," the Victoria & Albert Museum has announced - an exhibition about Kylie Minogue.
Not the most obvious of subjects for London's most prestigious art & design museum - and as a result, one that has attracted accusations of dumbing down.
The exhibition, currently the most marketed at the museum, will focus on the evolving image of the former TV actress and pop singer.
The 38-year-old's performance costumes, accessories, album covers and photographs will take centre stage to a backdrop of Kylie's most famous tunes and videos.
Stephen Bayley, architecture critic for The Observer, summed up the concern curators are bound to become familiar with as the exhibition approaches.
"I am conflicted about this," he wrote in the Sunday paper.
"If they are going to put Kylie's dresses in the chamber of horrors that is one thing, but if it is to be a mute celebration of the life of a celebrity, then it is not such as worthy thing."
But a spokeswoman for the V&A was defiant about featuring such a commercial figure as the centre piece of the world-class subsidised institution.
She told the paper: "To be a celebrity like Kylie you need to have a team of highly talented designers around you creating your look."
The exhibition shows Kylie's continually changing image, from 1988 onwards, starting with the overalls she wore as Charlene in Neighbours.
It also includes the infamous gold lamé hotpants worn in the video for Spinning Around and the white hooded jumpsuit featured in the Can't Get You Out of My Head video.
Feb 5, 2007
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