Dominic Mohan Curates New Exhibition
- A new exhibition celebrating the cultural phenomenon of Cool Britannia is launching at the Barbican Music Library in central London.
- The free exhibition is curated by Dominic Mohan, the former editor of The Sun newspaper and its Bizarre columnist.
- Central to the display are original costumes worn by the Spice Girls.
A new exhibition celebrating the cultural phenomenon of Cool Britannia is launching at the Barbican Music Library in central London. Titled 1996: A celebration of the wildest year of Britain’s wildest decade – 30 years on
, the show marks the 30th anniversary of a period defined by the intersection of pop music, rock, fashion, and politics.
The free exhibition is curated by Dominic Mohan, the former editor of The Sun newspaper and its Bizarre columnist. The collection is designed to capture the specific atmosphere of 1996, a year in which the Spice Girls rose to global prominence and the Britpop movement reached its peak.
Spice Girls and Britpop Memorabilia
Central to the display are original costumes worn by the Spice Girls. Among the most prominent items is the leopard-print catsuit worn by Mel B, also known as Scary Spice, during the group’s performance at the 1997 Brit Awards.
It is now the moment to unleash my ’90s leopard catsuit back into the wild for the world to admire. What memories. What a time. What an outfit. Perhaps one of the most iconic Spice performances with my gorgeous girls and best friends at the peak of the ’90s at the Brit Awards.
Mel B
Other clothing items on display include Geri Halliwell’s Union flag platform boots and a blue dress worn by Emma Bunton, known as Baby Spice. The exhibition also features a Brit Award trophy.
The Britpop era is represented through previously unseen Oasis memorabilia, including a tambourine used by Liam Gallagher. These items are presented alongside concert tickets and flyers from the period.
Broadening the Cultural Scope
While music and fashion are primary focuses, the exhibition aims to document the broader fusion of dance culture, art, food, and the media. This includes contributions from the electronic music scene, with personal items from DJs and record producers Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, and Paul Oakenfold.
Visual documentation of the era is provided through the work of British photographers Derek Ridgers and Jill Furmanovsky, whose images capture various bands both on and off stage.
The curation highlights 1996 as a pivotal year, noting the Spice Girls’ achievement of three number one hits, Oasis’s performance at Knebworth, and the cinematic release of the comedy-drama Trainspotting.
Visitor Information
The exhibition is presented by the City of London Corporation and will run from April 16, 2026, through September 19, 2026. It is located on Level 2 of the Barbican Centre at the Barbican Music Library.
The exhibition is free to the public and is accompanied by a program of Q&A sessions featuring key figures from the 1990s. The library maintains the following operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9.30am – 5.30pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9.30am – 7.30pm
- Saturday: 9.30am – 4.00pm
- Sunday and Bank Holidays: Closed