Hello, Robot: Star Wars’ iconic droid lands at V&A

DESIGN: Fan favourite model on loan from George Lucas museum

A special visitor from a galaxy far, far away has landed in Dundee.

A model prop of R2-D2 which featured in the first Star Wars film from 1977 is set to be one of the main attractions at the V&A’s upcoming Hello, Robot exhibition.

The iconic character was unboxed yesterday for a sneak preview, before being carefully packed up again ahead of the exhibition’s opening next month.

Known for his bleeps and bloops, R2-D2 is the only character – along with his sidekick C3PO – to appear in every film of the franchise’s main saga.

It has been donated by series creator George Lucas, as it is on loan from the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in LA.

The robot was packed in a crate designed specifically for the 93cm high droid and Patrick Luetzelschwab, from the German Vitra Museum, travelled with R2-D2 to ensure the utmost care was taken with its handling.

Patrick and Jessie Staniland, from V&A Dundee, carefully opened the crate and took the droid out to be viewed.

R2-D2 is strapped to a base so no one actually touches the model.

Hello, Robot debuted in the Vitra Design Museum and has also appeared in Vienna, Ghent and elsewhere.

It is the first V&A Dundee exhibition not from its London counterpart and Dundee will be the only place in the UK where Star Wars fans can get a view of R2-D2.

Museum curator Kirsty Hassard said: “As part of the Scottish Design Galleries there was a Queen Amidala costume (from Episode II – Attack Of The Clones) and I got to courier that back from Skywalker Ranch, which was a massive privilege

“This is the only time it will come to the UK, which is really exciting.

“A lot of people definitely seem to have quite a lot of affection for him as a character and that’s been really lovely to see. We’re expecting big visitor numbers.”

Other attractions featuring in the Hello, Robot exhibition – which explores the history of robotic design – include a 1927 poster for influential sci-fi film Metropolis and the androids that starred in the music video for Bjork’s song All Is Full Of Love.

Hello, Robot opens at the V&A on November 2 and runs until February 9.