in a fashion comeback all but a few saw coming, in 2014 it was announced that john galliano would take hold of the creative reigns at maison margiela. since then observers of fashion everywhere sat back and watched as the designer interpreted codes founded by the french luxury fashion house in paris, 1988. now galliano pushes them further, commissioning artist jessi reaves to create four site-specific works for the backdrop of the SS18 couture collection, the first time galliano has asked an artist to present new work alongside a margiela collection.

john galliano invites artist jessi reaves to create raw, deconstructed sculptures for maison margiela SS18
image courtesy of jessi reaves via instagram

 

 

jessi reaves, a graduate of the rhode island school of design whose work was shown at the whitney biennial last year, is best known for her raw, deconstructed artworks, reinventing salvaged objects that also function as furniture. for the set design of the artisanal collection, reaves presents amorphous, blobby-like sculptures covered in patchworks of motley fabrics.

john galliano invites artist jessi reaves to create raw, deconstructed sculptures for maison margiela SS18
image courtesy of jessi reaves via instagram

 

 

the commission comprises of four site-specific sculptures formed from upholstered pieces, including a marcel breuer cesca chair and a noguchi coffee table swallowed up by motley pieces of vinyl, linen, polyester and rubber. all in contrast with the walls painted in black and neon blue, adopted to match the metallic flair of the technicolor couture, a disruptive deconstruction echoes the industrial materials used to promote the margiela spirit.

john galliano invites artist jessi reaves to create raw, deconstructed sculptures for maison margiela SS18
all other images courtesy of maison margiela via instagram

 

john galliano invites artist jessi reaves to create raw, deconstructed sculptures for maison margiela SS18

 

john galliano invites artist jessi reaves to create raw, deconstructed sculptures for maison margiela SS18