It’s a match made in creative heaven: Maison Martin Margiela, a brand known for meticulous detail and stringent archiving; and Baptiste deBombourg (see past work here), the French artist who once documented every material and minute of his installation series.
Stalker is the second collaboration between the two (the first just a few months ago in the Maison’s Paris boutique), a glass installation marking the new Crystalactite collection between Margiela and Atelier Swarovski in Art Basel Miami.
Here, Trendland gets the exclusive with Baptiste…
TL: This is your second collaboration with Margiela. How did your relationship with the brand come about?
BdB: It started with a special event, Parcours Saint Germain, who organize a special exhibition every year along with FIAC, between fashion brands and contemporary art in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Curators make some artist selections, and then give the final choice to the fashion brand. Martin Margiela chose me and our first collaboration worked very well. I made the Turbo and CESIUM VIII installation. Then they proposed a second installation for the US.
TL: Making things for a retail/consumer public and setting.. how has this been different for you?
BdB: The glass is just the same material, but my approach was totally different. Working in a retail setting is not the same as working for a gallery or an art center. Things like security and the commercial setting are very important points to consider. I spent more time on the little details to make it safer for people to be able to touch the work.
The main point we all met on for the project was working with glass, in line with their jewelry concept collection, to express this idea of fusion differently with a new vision of the space.
So I started as always with the context, to observe clients moving, the commercial strategic place, observation work. My way of working was to include the shop—the clothes and the furniture—in the project, a hybrid between sculpture and display.
TL: What was the process of creating Stalker?
BdB: It took me one month to study and propose something to Maison Martin Margiela and Swarovski in France. I worked in small scale and prepared different versions to them. Of course, the cost of everything was a permanent question. They accepted my project and I flew to Miami to realize everything with a special team.
It took five guys and two weeks, and a lot of work to explain everything and find the right materials! We had to reproduce a real rolling rack with clothes, a wooden table strong enough to support the weight of the glass.
TL: Any memorable moments?
BdB: Well, the result pleased everyone, but I should tell you, it was hard working with glass! Everybody who helped was so tired every day—glass was everywhere, in clothes, our hair, even on our mouths. One memorable reaction was from Renzo Rosso, who really liked the water ligne he decided to keep it.
Photos by Patricia Dorfmann
