Martin Margiela at Lafayette Anticipations

Book excerpt: Superbly designed by Irma Boom, this book debut of Margiela's art exemplifies his fascination with corporeality Published for his first solo show as an artist at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris, this book presents, for the first time, more than 40 artworks by Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela (born 1957). Reproducing images of installations, sculptures, collages, paintings and films, the book also advances the thesis that Martin Margiela has always been an artist. Internationally renowned in the fashion world since the late 1980s, throughout his career as a designer Margiela has deliberately upended the conventions of fashion through his materials and his runway shows. The works at the Lafayette Anticipations exhibition, most of which were made in the Foundation's studio, return to the artist's obsessions. The body is very much in evidence here, from anatomies inspired by the academic tradition to hair and skin in almost abstract form. The catalog was designed by Irma Boom in close collaboration with Margiela as a "making of" the show, presenting both final and in-progress pictures of the works.