Marilyn’s iconic style – and the enduring influence of her ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ number from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) in today’s popular culture – are featured in Goddess: Brave, Bold, Beautiful, on display at the ArtScience Museum in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore until August 11, as Azrin Tan reports for Vogue. (The original costume – designed by Hollywood costumer Travilla – is not featured, however.)
“Perhaps aptly so, the exhibition begins with a look at the impact of Marilyn Monroe—who was often typecast in roles that portrayed her as a sex symbol. Whilst some might consider her position in film as antithetical to feminism, it is precisely the way she sought to reclaim her body and fought back against a restrictive film studio system that have earned her an iconic status. With three original costumes of other filmic roles that paid tribute to Monroe, such as Margot Robbie’s Monroe-esque sequence as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, the exhibition celebrates Monroe’s feminist legacy—in all of her pink, blonde glory.”
This touring exhibition first opened at ACMI in Melbourne, Australia in 2023 as Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion – featuring Marilyn’s original ‘I Wanna Be Loved By You’ dress, designed by Australian costumer Orry Kelly for Some Like It Hot (1959), also included in the Singapore exhibition.
The Marilyn Report 