Walter Van Beirendonck’s new release Powermask: The Power of Masks is a visually stunning publication that merges the past with the present. Complemented by texts penned by American fashion historian Valerie Steele, museum director Kaat Debo and art curator Chris Dercon, the glossy tome explores the common threads and distinct differences in mask traditions.
Described by Belgian fashion designer Jurgi Persoons as “a truly engaged visionary and a passionate designer, artist and teacher,” Van Beirendonck’s fascination with the artistic use of masks is inescapable and irresistible. A wide range of artwork handcrafted by dozens of creatives, including James Ensor, Keith Haring, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and Louise Bourgeois are thoroughly explored and ruthlessly compared in a rip- roaring explosion of colour, vibrancy and imagination.
