A room within Kensington’s Leighton House Museum, famed as the location for music videos by Spandau Ballet and The Stranglers, is the focus of a new exhibition in west London, opening to the public this week.
The ornate 19th-century Arab Hall, part of the former home of Victorian artist Frederic Leighton, was considered an ideal setting for the 1980s hits “Gold” by Spandau Ballet and “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers. The exhibition highlights the hall’s architectural significance and its enduring appeal as a filming location.
“It had a sort of 80s quality about it. It was flamboyant, and I consider there was an intrigue about the place that had an exoticism which suited the time,” said Gary Kemp, Spandau Ballet’s guitarist and songwriter, according to the BBC. He added, “The Arab Hall means so much to me because Gold ended up being such an enormous song.”
Leighton House, which celebrates its centenary as a public museum in 2025, was commissioned by Leighton in 1864. The house was designed as a “private palace of art” and a showcase for his artistic tastes, intended to entertain and impress fellow artists, collectors, and celebrities. It took over 30 years to complete, with a series of extensions between 1869 and 1895.
The museum, considered one of the country’s most important artist homes, faced challenges during World War II when it sustained bomb damage and remained closed until the early 1950s. Restoration efforts in the post-war period initially involved whitewashing interiors and installing fluorescent lighting, which diminished Leighton’s original décor. However, these interiors have since been restored to their original “jewel-like tones and Middle Eastern influences,” including the re-gilding of the dome and restoration of the ziggurats within the Arab Hall.
The Arab Hall’s Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-influenced style, inspired by Leighton’s travels abroad, including to Syria, continues to attract filmmakers and musicians. The current exhibition builds on a history of appearances in music videos, films, and television productions.
A major exhibition on the legendary Blitz club night, which featured early performances by Spandau Ballet, is currently running at the Design Museum, concluding on March 29, 2026.
Leave a Reply