Acting deputy chief of US Embassy in Doha, Megan Schildgen (centre) and Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the French Embassy, Marie-Gaëlle Robles (right) during ‘Virgil Abloh: The Face Behind Louis Vuitton’ exhibition at the Fire Station, yesterday.
On the occasion of Black History Month, the US Embassy in Doha organised a private tour press engagement titled ‘Virgil Abloh; The Face Behind Louis Vuitton,’ at the Fire Station yesterday.
The event, held as a tribute to Virgil Abloh, American fashion designer and entrepreneur, was organised in collaboration with the embassy of France in Doha and Qatar Museums.
Guests were taken through a tour of the exhibition ‘Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech,’ the acclaimed American artist and designer’s first museum exhibition in the Middle East.
Acting deputy chief of US Embassy in Doha, Megan Schildgen, said, “At the US embassy in Doha we engage in meaningful, diplomatic programmes to celebrate diversity throughout the year.
“I’m honoured to pay honour to Virgil Abloh, whose talent and dedication contributed immensely to American and French society, culture and the arts.”
“We celebrate Virgil Abloh who made history as the first African American artistic director of the French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. He supported and inspired the black community by breaking barriers and empowering black fashion designers around the world. He was very vocal about social justice and brought it commentary in his designs. With his untimely passing in November we lost a pillar of excellence in the fashion industry,” she added.
Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the French Embassy, Marie-Gaëlle Robles, said, “Virgil Abloh was in Doha few months ago, on the occasion of opening of this exhibition. This is one of the kind as it the first exhibition around him in the Middle East.
“On the occasion of the celebration of Black History Month in the US, we couldn’t find a better option to celebrate him, remember and commemorate together here in Doha.”
Virgil Abloh (1980–2021) made a career out of questioning assumptions and defying expectations.
Raised in the Chicago area, Abloh trained as an architect but found his calling as a fashion designer.
He worked across disciplines, collaborating with graphic and furniture designers, musicians and contemporary artists as well as others in the fashion industry. In undertaking projects in new fields, he not only influenced the conversations within them but also expanded their traditional audiences, reaching millions through social media.
With more than 55 works, ‘Virgil Abloh: ‘Figures of Speech, offers an in-depth look at the late artist’s diverse pioneering media practice, from visual arts to music, fashion, architecture and design.
Running throughout the exhibition is an emphasis on dialogue, which Abloh created through his inventive use of language and quotation marks, turning the objects he designed and the people who wear his clothing into ‘figures of speech’.
The exhibition is open at Fire Station until April 2, from Saturday to Thursday, between 9am and 7pm, while on Fridays from 1.30pm to 7pm.
