Michel Majerus. On Aluminium
Michel Majerus. On Aluminium is a monograph that pays tribute to the Luxembourg artist Michel Majerus (1967–2002). Edited by the Michel Majerus Estate, it was conceived in 2017 by Matthew Marks Gallery, New York, together with neugerriemschneider, Berlin, and published in a bilingual edition (English and German) through Berlin-based publisher Distanz.
The cover of the book is designed to resemble a brushed metal plate, which is in line with Majerus’ work in which he often uses metallic elements.
The white typography in Akzidenz-Grotesk is quite simple and small, almost symmetrical to the Mario figure. It is uncharacteristic and allows one to focus on the work on the cover.
The presence of Mario on the cover is a reflection of one of his works from 1996, a series of untitled paintings based on the world of Nintendo’s Mario video game. It consists of enamel paint and silkscreen on aluminium, five parts, each 98½ × 49¼ inches; 250 × 125 cm. Majerus explained that the use of the Mario universe in his work refers to his interest in systems and structures, as well as the ambiguity of the boundary between the real and the virtual. Majerus’ work is often associated with the postmodern art movement, which is characterized by the use of heterogeneous elements and the questioning of traditional artistic conventions.
