M.I.A. (book)

"M.I.A." is a biographical art book by M.I.A.. Is the first official book written by Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam.

Background
Is a documentation of her entire visual output and a telling of her story in collages, photos, and prints from her early years in art school at Central Saint Martins London through to her hugely successful three albums, mixtapes, and live performances at PS1 MoMA, Coachella, various exhibitions, installations, and music video shoots. The artwork is comprised of a wide variety of materials and media: video stills turned to stencils pieced back together to make animated installations; spray-painted canvasses scanned then made into digital collages; photographs videotaped, then run through bad computer connections to create graphic prints; artwork on nails, walls, prints for T-shirts, handmade stage costumes—anything she could find while she was touring. Also included are assorted lyrics and portions of an exclusive interview in which she discusses candidly the personal events and themes which informed her art and music at the time of each campaign. Includes foreword by Steve Loveridge, friend since her art school days and frequent creative collaborator with M.I.A.

Writing and composition
M.I.A. spent her first 10 years in Sri Lanka and India while her father campaigned for a separate Tamil state. She came back to London and translated those years into film, digital and print artistic projects before getting into music in the early-2000s.

In the introduction, which she signs with her real name, Mathangi Maya Arulpragasm, she says: "This book is a document of the five years of MIA art that spans across three LPs: Arular, Kala and Maya. ". She also devotes pages to her VickiLeekx mixtape and the art that influenced her label N.E.E.T. (Not in Education, Employment. Training).

Critical reception
"The book contains original drawings, collages, photographs, and digital artwork, with intermittent textual commentary, detailing the political and artistic evolution that led her to pursue music as a more publicly accessible, aggressive medium." ~Complex Magazine

"As chaotic and trippy as Magic Eye, this book is as overwhelming as it is powerful—much like the artist herself." ~Lifestyle Mirror

"...collages, prints and concept artwork by the renegade artist and turns them into a cacophony of colour. The riotous art appears on her manicure, clothing, walls and takes readers through the themes that underlie M.I A.'s work and self-presentation" ~National Post