Summary
- More than 800 photographs from Denis O’Regan’s archive
- Eight screens, 12 Bowie songs and L-ISA spatial audio
- The photographer’s narration connects concerts and offstage moments
- Original compositions by Mike Garson and sound design by Nick Ryan
- A 25-minute experience at Venice Immersive, through September 12
More than 800 David Bowie photographs become a 25-minute audiovisual experience at Venice Immersive, narrated by photographer Denis O’Regan.
Bowie: Unseen | Unheard is presented at the Venice International Film Festival through September 12, 2026. It combines familiar and previously unseen images spanning two decades of the musician’s life with his songs, original music by Mike Garson and sound design by Nick Ryan.
O’Regan was there for the concerts and for the hours between performances. His narration gives the photographs the context that is often lost when an archive is presented solely as a sequence of images: who was there, what had happened beforehand and how Bowie lived offstage.
From Serious Moonlight to an archive of 10,000 photographs
Their collaboration began with the Serious Moonlight tour in 1983. Bowie gave O’Regan unrestricted access and encouraged him to keep shooting. The tours of 1987 and 1990 followed, and the archive eventually grew to more than 10,000 images.
In his Artnet interview, the photographer describes rediscovering forgotten images while preparing the installation. The selection includes the theatricality of concerts and everyday moments, such as resting in a boat in Bangkok. O’Regan recalls photographing Bowie from above as he lay in the bow after a meal.
Eight screens and a story that surrounds the viewer in sound
According to PetaPixel, the installation uses eight screens and 84 hidden speakers, connecting 12 Bowie songs with O’Regan’s commentary. The project was developed with the support and cooperation of the musician’s estate.
Nick Ryan designed the sound environment using L-Acoustics’ L-ISA spatial audio technology. Music and sounds unfold throughout the room, conveying the anticipation before a stage entrance, the scale of an arena and the atmosphere backstage. Mike Garson, Bowie’s longest-serving band member, contributes new compositions.
In this official L-Acoustics post, Denis O’Regan, Joe Crossley and Nick Ryan discuss how they created the experience:
Bowie’s image beyond the concert
O’Regan has spoken about Bowie’s enthusiasm for new ideas and technology, as well as his interest in cinema, theatre and mime. His stage presence, as seen in his performance of “Cracked Actor”, offers a distinctive example of the connection between music and theatrical imagery.
This photographic material has also appeared in O’Regan’s books: Ricochet: David Bowie 1983 was published in 2018 and David Bowie by Denis O’Regan in 2025. His official publications page provides details of the books and their different editions. PTTL has also covered the story behind the photographic cover of Aladdin Sane.
From London to Venice Immersive
The experience had already been presented at SXSW London, at the L-Acoustics venue in Highgate. In Venice, it forms part of the Venice Immersive programme on the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio.
Denis O’Regan, Nick Ryan and Joe Crossley direct the project. L-Acoustics produced it, with Paul Keating and Denis O’Regan as producers. It is an English-language UK production. The official Biennale programme provides presentation details.
