M.I.A’s work as a singer/provocateur is under near constant scrutiny, but her output as an artist doesn’t regularly come in for critical assessment.

Before she turned to music, Maya Arulpragasam made her name as a visual artist. Her album cover work has ranged from striking (Arular) to iconic (Kala) to “oh God get it away from me” (/\/\/\Y/\). According to a recent interview with Spin, Arulpragasam is now turning her talents to designing beer labels.

Beck’s have commissioned M.I.A to create a new limited edition label for their beer bottles. The resulting design features a multicoloured ying-yang wreathed by a number of garish palisades.

In non-design related news, M.I.A confirmed that she was “finishing the record which has been a long time coming”. Switch is definitely on board for fourth album Matangi, as is a stash of contributors she’s currently refusing to name. Peep below to see M.I.A talking shop about the designing gig.