Holy Pop: Fandom as Devotion Unearthed

Holy Pop, an exhibition at London's Somerset House, examines the profound connection between fans and the objects associated with their idols, presenting fandom as a contemporary form of devotion.

Photographer Alice Hawkins' shrine to Dolly Parton, featuring leaves from the singer's garden and hair extensions, exemplifies the personal significance of fan memorabilia. The exhibition also displays collections dedicated to Prince, the Spice Girls, and George Michael, alongside art pieces like a resin reproduction of Jim Morrison's graffiti-covered headstone.

Curator Tory Turk views fans as 'citizen curators,' rescuing fandom from negative perceptions of online toxicity and nerdiness. The exhibition posits that collecting tangible items, such as a piece of Nina Simone's chewed gum or a cookie jar that once held ashes, serves a crucial emotional purpose, offering a sense of faith and belonging in an increasingly secular society.

This practice of collecting physical objects is seen as vital for absorbing memories and building personal archives. However, the exhibition also acknowledges that this form of fandom, deeply rooted in physical presence and the hunt for unique items, may be diminishing in an era dominated by online interactions.