The list recognises artists across the UK's visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, music, film and TV industries. The Ziggy Stardust musician was given the #1 slot due to his aptitude for multiple mediums: music, film and fashion.
Artist Joe Black used over 8,500 guitar plectrums to make a portrait of David Bowie. #DavidBowie #art pic.twitter.com/FmltdSPbrx
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David Bowie was a pioneer of arts and culture who continues to influence countless artists to this day. Aside from his musical influence, his exploration of gender expression had a huge impact on popular culture. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2006, a Saturn award for Best actor, earned a retrospective in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2013 displaying his fashion influence – and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Sky Arts' list of 50 artists also featured Banksy, Spice Girls, Steve McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. The panel of judges was led by DJ and author Lauren Laverne. (HotPress)
To celebrate Bowie's spot at number one on their list, Sky Arts commissioned a 2-metre-tall portrait of him made up of guitar picks intricately painted and individually pieced together. Each pick contains a carving on it to relate to Bowie, such as a musical note or film camera.
The artist of the massive portrait, Joe Black explained, "Bowie was a maverick and global icon who initiated a new Bowie era in popular culture."
The artwork, standing at a mammoth 2m tall, has been made using 8,610 individually placed guitar plectrums.
According to Playboy, Bowie announced he was leaving rock during his encore at an outdoor London concert in 1973. However, shortly after, he released Diamond Dogs and booked a three-month U.S. tour. He next announced his retirement from rock in April 1975.
“I’ve rocked my roll,” he said. “It’s a boring dead end. There will be no more rock-‘n’-roll records or tours from me. The last thing I want to be is some useless f****** rock singer.” However, that didn’t last either. It is depressing and sterile and, yes, ultimately evil, Anything that contributes to stagnation is evil. When it has familiarity, it’s no longer rock ‘n’ roll. It’s white noise. Dirge. Just look at disco music–the endless numb beat. It’s really dangerous."
Playboy asked Bowie how he rationalized these contradictions. Bowie said not to believe anything he said. “I lie,” he said. “It’s quite easy to do. Nothing matters except whatever it is I’m doing at the moment. I can’t keep track of everything I say, I don’t give a s***. I can’t even remember how much I believe and how much I don’t believe.
“The point is to grow into the person you grow into. I haven’t a clue where I’m gonna be in a year. A raving nut, a flower child or a dictator, some kind of reverend–I don’t know. That’s what keeps me from getting bored.”
“So I’ve moved on. I’ve established the fact that I am an entertainer, David Bowie, not just another boring rock singer. I’ve got a film out, Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth. And I’ll be doing a lot more, taking a lot of chances.
“The minute you know you’re on safe ground, you’re dead. You’re finished. It’s over. The last thing I want is to be established. I want to go to bed every night saying, ‘If I never wake again, I certainly will have lived while I was alive.'”
