Maison Martin Margiela "20" Exhibition Recap

Originally previewed last month, Maison Martin Margiela launched a major exhibition celebrating 20 years of one of contemporary fashion’s most influential and enigmatic designers. The show explores Martin Margiela’s artistic and conceptual approach to fashion. A graduate of Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Martin Margiela formerly worked as design assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier before showing his first collection under his own label in 1988. The exhibition runs from June 3rd to September 5th, 2010. A comprehensive catalog will accompany the exhibition.

Maison Martin Margiela “20″ The Exhibition [MAP]
Somerset House
Embankment Galleries
London
WC2

Photography: HYPEBEAST and Sylvain Deleu

This multi-layered exhibition captures Margiela’s unique aesthetic and vision spanning the past 20 years, by incorporating installations, photography, video and film. It will provide an opportunity to learn more about the brand and its philosophy through a visual examination of themes that underpin the essence of the fashion house since its creation – from its deconstructivist, subversive design aesthetic and avant-garde couture to its understated branding, unusual boutique interiors and ‘trompe-l’oeil’ or optical illusion and its couture atelier white coats. Various iconic pieces from both the women and menswear collections will be on display, such as the highly replicated ‘Tabi’ boots, as well as specially recreated garments for the exhibition.

Somerset House Director, Gwyn Miles says “we are delighted to be bringing Maison Martin Margiela’s major retrospective to Somerset House. This forms part of our aim to host an exciting year round programme of contemporary cultural exhibitions and events that reflects current trends in the creative industries, particularly in fashion and design. I hope this exhibition stimulates debate and ideas, and will go some way in establishing Somerset House as a genuine creative hub for London”.

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