Irma Boom

The exhibition of a prominent Dutch graphic artists Irma Boom will focus on the long-term cooperation of Irma Boom with architects and her design of books on architecture, design and related fields.

The Prague display presents Boom’s works that are associated with architecture and design, e.g. book monographs and catalogues, the great part of the exhibition will be dedicated to the close cooperation of Irma Boom with the Rotterdam architectural studio OMA and its founder and director Rem Koolhaas. The exhibition will also present the design of the leading architecture magazine Volume that is co-published by AMO, the research platform of OMA. Besides, the exhibition will present Boom’s work for other projects or architects (Wiel Arets, Benthem Crouwel, MVRDV, Tabanlıoğlu Architects, Vitra, etc.).

The exhibition aims to show the understanding of the relation between typography and architecture and presents graphic design as a means of communication important for architecture. Boom herself understands books in a somewhat architectural manner, that is, as a reorganisation of forms and elements that work together within a whole unit. For Irma, conceptual work with the book medium is important. She uses both miniature and large-scale formats, works with colour on both the inside and the outside of the book and employs various materials to create a haptic experience from reading. She does not call herself a graphic designer, but a “book designer,” and she perceives books as independent works or objects of art. In spite of all this her books have a clear structure, rhythm and order.

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.

Exhibition partners: Embassy of the Netherlands in the Czech Republic, Master & Master, Vitra, OMA and Volume.

Installation: Pavel Machar, Radek Teichman

Photo: © Peter Fabo