Acclaimed Dutch book designer Irma Boom has produced more than 300 books, a third of which are housed in collections from the Centre Pompidou in Paris to MoMA in New York and the Art Institute in Chicago. Following the opening of the ‘Cuyperspassage’ in Amsterdam, where Boom designed a 110-metre tile wall earlier this year, she is now attracting further attention in her hometown at Slewe Gallery.
Since 1994, Boom has been working with compatriot gallerist Martita Slewe, creating the gallery’s identity and designing most of its catalogues, plus a book published in 2004 to mark its ten-year anniversary. Now, the gallery is staging an exhibition for Boom herself, entitled 'Under Cover'; and the designer has been invited to curate the show herself. ‘Over the years, Irma slowly moved into a position of an artist,' says Slewe. 'She is now moving between the boundaries of art and design; a very interesting position.’
The exhibition, which opened on 12 March, comprises two parts. The first features 15 of Boom’s own books – including some rare titles – together with a further 12 that she considers fundamental to her work as an artist. The 1996 commission from Dutch coal trader SHV, the 2,136-page SHV Think Book 1996–1896 that put Boom on the international map, is an essential choice; Weaving as Metaphor for the American artist Sheila Hicks – proclaimed 'The Most Beautiful Book in the World’ by Leipzig Book Fair in 2006 – describes the tactile approach of Boom’s works; the famously inkless white volume, No. 5 Culture Chanel, created for Chanel’s 2013 exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, showcases the unconventional nature of both the brand and the designer.
The second part of the exhibition sees the launch of Boom’s Hommage à Kelly, designed as a tribute to her inspiration, Ellsworth Kelly, who died last December. The 1,216-page volume of pure colour blocks concealed in a black box is a limited edition of 99 copies, signed and numbered in pencil – more than half have already been bought by collectors.
‘Over the years, Irma slowly moved into a position of an artist,' says gallerist Martita Slewe. 'She is now moving between the boundaries of art and design; a very interesting position.’ Pictured: No. 5 Culture Chanel, created for Chanel’s 2013 exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris
The exhibition, which opened on 12 March, comprises two parts. The first features 15 of Boom’s own books – including some rare titles – together with a further 12 that she considers fundamental to her work as an artist. Pictured: Project Japan: Metabolism Talks, by Rem Koolhaas, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Kayoko Ota, published by Taschen, 2012. Courtesy the artist
The second part of the exhibition sees the launch of Boom’s Hommage à Kelly, designed as a tribute to her inspiration, Ellsworth Kelly, who died last December.
The 1,216-page volume of pure colour blocks concealed in a black box is a limited edition of 99 copies, signed and numbered in pencil.
Since 1994, Boom has been working with Martita Slewe, creating the gallery’s identity and designing most of its catalogues, plus a book published in 2004 to mark the gallery’s ten-year anniversary.
INFORMATION
’Under Cover’ is on view until 16 April. For more information, visit the Slewe Gallery’s website
ADDRESS
Slewe Gallery
Kerkstraat 105-A
1017 GD Amsterdam
-
The Barbican as muse: composer Shiva Feshareki on bringing the brutalist icon to life through musicFor the last two years, British-Iranian experimental composer and turntablist Shiva Feshareki has been drawing on the Barbican’s hidden history as a gateway for her new piece. She talks to Wallpaper* about her Brutalist muse
-
London's coolest design-led coffee shops for your Fashion Week fixCoffee shops are the heart of London’s neighbourhoods, discover those fusing speciality beans and stylish interiors for the perfect brew
-
Martine Rose’s first gallery show celebrates the radical queer energy of Bronski BeatTaking place at Sadie Coles over London Fashion Week, ‘Everything Must Change’ centres on a 2016 short film by menswear designer Martine Rose and image-maker Sharna Osborne starring Bronski Beat frontman Jimmy Somerville
-
Meet the duo using hair and photography as a medium to consider Africa and the African diaspora‘Strands & Structures’ makes its European debut at the Open Space Contemporary Art Museum in Amsterdam, exploring social and environmental issues in Accra, Ghana
-
‘The danger of AI’, photography and the future at FoamNew project ‘Photography Through the Lens of AI’ asks the big questions at Foam, Amsterdam
-
Artist Peggy Kuiper’s impactful figurative works explore her memories and emotional landscape with striking visual intensityPeggy Kuiper presents ‘The Conversation That Never Took Place’ at Reflex in Amsterdam, featuring over 25 new works (until 13 July)
-
Meredith Monk’s interdisciplinary art sets all the senses singing in Amsterdam show‘Meredith Monk: Calling’ at Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, is both a series of concerts and a deep-dive into Monk’s eclectic oeuvre
-
Heads up: art exhibitions to see in January 2024Start the year right with the Wallpaper* pick of art exhibitions to see in January 2024
-
Carlijn Jacobs and Sabine Marcelis create a surreal fantasy at Foam, AmsterdamPhotographer Carlijn Jacobs has united with Sabine Marcelis on the design of her first solo exhibition, at Foam, Amsterdam
-
Caroline Walker curates as Grimm Amsterdam explores domesticity in artCurating ‘The Painted Room’ at Grimm Amsterdam, Caroline Walker explores the intimacy of interiors
-
Drift Museum, a blockbusting experiential space, is set to open in Amsterdam in 2025Drift Museum is a collaboration between art duo Drift – aka Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta – and entrepreneur Eduard Zanen
