Virgil Abloh (1980-2021)
Untitled (Green Book Spine) , 2019
A mixed-media assemblage and altered book object, executed on a vintage book cover and spine. This work originates from the studio of the late artist and designer Virgil Abloh and exemplifies his conceptual approach to readymades and textual deconstruction. The piece comprises a vintage green cloth-bound book cover, measuring 11 x 15.25 inches (27.9 x 38.7 cm), which the artist has transformed through a series of distinct, hand-executed interventions.
On the obverse, or front cover, the spine is inscribed vertically in black marker, bearing the artist's signature and the date "VIRGIL" ©2019. The reverse, or back cover, features an abstract geometric composition of line designs, rendered directly onto the surface by the artist. The inside front cover bears an applied sticker with a handwritten aphorism in the artist's hand reading "Great Is The Gift That Bringeth Knowledge," a phrase that resonates with Abloh's enduring interrogation of craft, education, and cultural value. The inside back cover contains a distinctive burnt indent inscription, reading "VIRGIL" 2019 in small lettering; this use of scorching as a mark-making medium is a rare and significant material departure, highlighting Abloh's engagement with process and decay.