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The Wild Life Archive tells you everything you need to know about dance music culture
The Wild Life Archive is currently being exhibited digitally by Desa Potato Head, Bali
Researching and learning aren't exactly words that push excitement levels through the roof, but when they're linked to dance music culture, it's a completely different story. Dare we say it's fun? Course we will, especially when it's related to the Wild Life Archive.
The Wild Life Archive, featuring 4000 items dating back to electronic music's beginnings in the 1970s, is currently being digitally exhibited by Desa Potato Head Bali. The Indonesian hotspot, which has collaborated with Peggy Gou on a clothing collection, is using its Facebook page, Instagram and website for the WLA, showcasing artifacts spanning acid house, Detroit techno, Chicago house, disco in New York, Balearic and so much more. The likes of DJ Harvey, Honey Dijon and Horse Meat Disco will all feature, too.
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Expect rave flyers for parties like Telepathy, photos of legendary Manchester club The Haçienda, genre-spanning fashion and designs by artist Keith Haring for parties at the Paradise Garage with Larry Levan. There's also snapshots of Albert Goldman's book Disco, described as "a dancefloor expose par excellence", with images of Studio 54 and the Sanctuary and Brian David Stevens' Notting Hill Sound Systems.
Wild Life Archive founder Steve Terry, who started the archive as personal collection, outlined its importance to music culture: "Wild Life Archive is a living historical document of our scene and will help to preserve this culture for future generations to research and enjoy."
On choosing Potato Head Bali as the place to host the exhibition, Terry added: "Potato Head's connection to dance music culture is part of their foundation - they have built a global community of DJs, producers, artists and dancers that come together on a daily basis at the DESA.
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"This along with the Studio Eksotika listening space, Beach Club, DJ Harvey's soon to launch Klymax nightclub and the dedicated gallery space make it the perfect platform."
This isn't the first time the Wild Life Archive has been exhibited, with it previously being shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.
As well as hosting the Wild Life Archive, Desa Potato Head has also called on the likes of CC:Disco and Mr Scruff for exclusive playlists. Head here to tuck into their collection of blissed-out sun-friendly jams.
Follow Desa Potato Head on Instagram to check out the Wild Life Archive exhibition. You can also view it on the Desa Potato Head website.
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