Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech Special Edition - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3791359002 ISBN 13: 9783791359007

Publisher: Prestel, 2019

Synopsis

From street fashion to high culture, the work of Virgil Abloh, a celebrated multihyphenate artist, is showcased in this book.

For Abloh, the museum catalogue is another opportunity to "question everything." This monograph, produced in close collaboration with the artist himself, explores his creative output in a three-books-in-one format. The catalogue section offers an overview of Abloh's interdisciplinary practice by Michael Darling and features essays and interviews with key voices in art, fashion, design, and architecture, including Taiye Selasi, Lou Stoppard, Michael Rock, Samir Bantal, Rem Koolhaas, and Anja Aronowsky Cronberg. In the archives section, more than 1,800 never-before-seen images pulled from the artist's personal files reveal the remarkable breadth of his influences and collaborations. And the index cross references the catalogue plates--Abloh's works--with his projects and process, using a vocabulary of themes developed by Abloh. It comes in a cloth slipcase with "Personal Copy" silkscreened on the book fore edge, a measuring tape ribbon marker, and a flexi disc printed with a Juergen Teller photo that includes a recording of Virgil Abloh discussing his inspirations. This book is designed with Swiss binding. When opened the front cover lays completely flat and is not attached to the front pages of the book. The binding also intentionally exposes the spine of the bound book and the raw boards used for the case (cover).

Published with Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

About this title

About the Author

MICHAEL DARLING is James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator at the MCA Chicago.

Review

"The show’s hefty, excellent catalog embraces this spirit, deploying a titillating level of detail."–The New York Times

"When Virgil Abloh breathes, his CO2 is practically up on eBay the next day — so we imagine his new book, Figures of Speech... won’t be long for this world." –New York Magazine

"Figures of Speech is packed with 1,932 images and a number of essays which discuss race, contemporary art history, streetwear and more. Altogether, the Prestel-produced book spans 496 pages and features a fittingly minimalist hardback cover."–HypeBeast

"...the object that is really worth coveting is the book. More than a simple catalog it’s a 500 page User’s Manual to his career." –Core77

“Expect it to fly off the shelves like freshly baked cookies” —Buro

“Designer and creative director Virgil Abloh has a new coffee table book you'll want to make space for in your living room. A particularly cool addition to your coffee table or bookshelf..." –AIROWS

Edition details

• Publisher: Prestel
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 3791359002
• ISBN 13: 9783791359007
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 496
• Editor: Darling Michael