Virgil Abloh & Vitra's TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE Collaboration

Creative powerhouse Virgil Abloh has ‘hacked’ the archives of iconic Swiss furniture brand Vitra, reinterpreting classic pieces as part of an installation for Art Basel. The resulting exhibition, ‘TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE’, is on display at the Fire Station on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein until July 31. Abloh’s limited edition three-piece range includes two products by Jean Prouvé and a new product, on sale to the public as limited edition exhibition spin-offs.

The first part of the installation, “Past/Present”, revolves around the interaction between an adolescent and his home surroundings, examining technological progression and societal changes might affect our homes. An assemblage of iconic pieces by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames and Jean Prouvé’s 1942 Petite Potence lamp and 1950s Atony armchair are presented in a dreamy, memory-like scene.

Part two, “Future”, follows the fictitious protagonist from adolescence to adult life in the year 2035, questioning the degree to which our physical environment influences our life path, tastes and decisions. The iconic pieces have been re-worked into new products reflective of creative and cultural influences over the protagonist’s life.

For his spin-off collection, Abloh reimagines Prouvé’s Atony armchair as a plexiglass shell with an orange lacquer finish. Just 100 pieces were made. His take on the Potence lamp features the same bright orange lacquer with a caged LED bulb, with 300 numbered pieces available. Finally, Abloh created 999 orange ceramic blocks, which are stacked along a wall as a key part of the “Tomorrow” installation room. They are available to purchase during the exhibition, with the removal of each block symbolizing Abloh’s vision of a changing and evolving future.

Abloh has led a truly multi-hyphenate career; as an architect, DJ, engineer, university lecturer, and creative director of Louis Vuitton, he draws from diverse creative disciplines to provoke socio-political messages. His partnership with Vitra is one in a string of experimental projects for the brand with that go beyond the basics of furniture and homewares, aiming to penetrate an audience engaged in both social and design issues.