Irma Boom: The Architecture of the Book

An artist talk of the graphic designer and typographer Irma Boom related to her exhibition at VIPER Gallery.

The presentation will cover selected works by Irma Boom and will show books that she has designed recently from all perspectives. Irma Boom’s unique attitude will be accented, that is, her creative working techniques and her conceptual work with the medium she works with the most often: the book. The thing is that she does not call herself a graphic designer, but a “book designer,” and she perceives books as independent art works or objects. Boom understands books in a somewhat architectural manner, that is, as reorganisation of forms and elements. Each book represents for her an experiment with which she undermines traditional approach.

Irma Boom (1960) is one of the world’s most prominent book artists. She has created more than 300 books during her career, from miniatures to large formats. She has had commissions from organisations, companies and institutions such as MoMA or Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York, Serpentine Gallery in London, United Nations, Chanel, Vitra or Rem Koolhaas’ architectural studio OMA; or from individuals such as Petra Blaisse, Sheila Hicks or Olafur Eliasson. She has been awarded many prizes and honours, including one from the Dutch Queen Beatrix. Her books can be found in the permanent collections of many institutions (MoMA New York, Centre George Pompidou in Paris, Art Institute of Chicago etc.). A personalized Irma Boom Archive has been set up at the University of Amsterdam. Irma Boom has been a critic at Yale University School of Art.

Irma Boom's lecture will be held in English at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, Jan Palach Square 80, Room 115 (https://www.umprum.cz).