London ( CNN ) -- David Bowie always did have impeccable timing . He released his song about a doomed astronaut , `` Space Oddity , '' just days before the 1969 Moon landing . Four years later he killed off his most famous creation , the other-worldly `` Ziggy Stardust , '' just at the point it threatened to overwhelm him . More than 130 million record sales later , Bowie is back after a relatively quiet decade ( he underwent emergency heart surgery in 2004 ) . He celebrated his 66th birthday in January by releasing `` Where Are We Now , '' his first song for more than 10 years , without any warning . His 27th studio album , `` The Next Day , '' is riding high at the top of UK charts , earning critical acclaim . This weekend the doors will open on an extraordinary exhibition of Bowie 's life and career at the V & A Museum in London . `` David Bowie Is '' chronicles the rise of an unknown singer called David Jones from the south London suburbs through his `` Ziggy Stardust '' heyday and his later ground-breaking years spent holed up in Berlin . It also takes in his many acting roles and acclaimed fashion designs over the years . Read why Bowie is back to his mysterious best . The exhibition 's curators , Geoffrey Marsh and Victoria Broackes , have had full access to the star 's archives , which means they have almost everything worth having . `` Most bands go bust or split up , '' says Marsh , `` so to find a collection in one place which represents 40 or 50 years is pretty rare . `` There 's a whole generation which has grown up with him and although they find the idea of him in a museum a bit strange I think the fact that he can do that and produce a successful new album at the same time actually shows what a remarkable person he is . '' The exhibition features for the first time more than 300 objects from Bowie 's life , from amazing stage outfits to rare photographs from the early years , videos of outstanding live performances screened in a thunderously loud surround-sound cinema , Bowie 's own musical instruments , record cover designs and paintings . `` When you see the costumes close up it is really thrilling , '' says Broackes . `` Nothing beats it really in this age -- when you can do so many things in other ways -- actually seeing the real thing . You might have seen it on TV , you might have seen it on stage or on film , but to see for example the 'Ashes to Ashes ' costume close up it 's pretty fantastic . We 've also got the Ziggy costumes and they 're amazing . '' The exhibition is creating almost as much of a buzz as Bowie 's new music , reflecting the unique position he holds in the British arts and music landscape . As Broackes says : `` Bowie 's permeated every area of our culture . He is no ordinary pop star . '' `` David Bowie Is '' at the V & A in central London , and runs from March 23 until August 11 .
Plans to open on exhibition of life of David Bowie at V & A museum in London . His 27th studio album , ` ` The Next Level , '' is riding high at the top of UK charts . ` ` David Bowie Is '' chronicles Bowie 's long career as singer , musician and actor . Exhibition includes for the first time more than 300 objects from Bowie 's life .