Martin Margiela will make his debut as an artist 12 years after retiring from fashion with an exhibition at Lafayette Anticipations, the art foundation backed by Groupe Galeries Lafayette, scheduled to open in April.
The reclusive designer has been the subject of multiple exhibitions in recent years, as well as a 2019 documentary, “Martin Margiela: In His Own Words.” He has never before shown his art.
“Martin Margiela,” is set to run from April 15th to July 25th and will feature previously unseen sculptures, photographs and installations, most of which have been created in the workshops of the 24,000-square-foot space designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ OMA agency. Margiela also created the scenography for the exhibition.
“This exhibition celebrates the idea that Martin Margiela has always been an artist, whose work has played out since, within and outside the art world, Martin Margiela has always made us look at things with fresh eyes. Going against the grain, he cultivates an obsession for discreet people, abandoned objects and forgotten places and events, bestowing on them a new dignity,”
the foundation said in a statement.
“The exhibition presented at Lafayette Anticipations, conceived as a complete work of art, continues Martin Margiela’s obsession with transformation,” it continued, adding that he was inspired by perennial themes in his work such as “the passage of time, disappearance, chance, mystery, aura.”
Martin Margiela Lafayette Anticipations April 15th- July 25th lafayetteanticipations.com
