Ruin — Virgil Abloh & Ben Kelly
A groundbreaking collaboration between two visionary designers exploring themes of destruction, reconstruction, and cultural transformation through fashion, architecture, and spatial design.
28.9.2018 — 2.12.2018
Witness the meeting of two design minds as Virgil Abloh and Ben Kelly explore the concept of 'ruin' as both destruction and renewal, creating an immersive experience that challenges conventional understanding of space, fashion, and cultural memory.
"Ruin" presents a unique collaboration between Virgil Abloh, founder of Off-White and former artistic director of Louis Vuitton Men's, and Ben Kelly, the legendary designer behind iconic spaces like the Haçienda nightclub. Together, they examine how destruction can become a creative force for renewal and transformation.
The exhibition explores the concept of ruin not as an end state, but as a beginning—a site of possibility where new forms of creativity can emerge. Through spatial installations, fashion pieces, and architectural interventions, Abloh and Kelly demonstrate how the fragments of the past can be reassembled into new cultural expressions.
This collaboration bridges generational and disciplinary boundaries, bringing together Abloh's streetwear innovation with Kelly's pioneering approach to club and retail design. The result is a meditation on legacy, influence, and the continuous cycle of cultural creation and destruction.
The Collaborators
Virgil Abloh (1980-2021)
Virgil Abloh was a revolutionary designer who redefined luxury fashion through his streetwear sensibility and conceptual approach. As the founder of Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton Men's, he bridged high fashion and street culture.
His work consistently explored themes of appropriation, quotation, and cultural translation, making him one of the most influential designers of his generation.
Ben Kelly
Ben Kelly is a pioneering designer whose work on Manchester's Haçienda nightclub created one of the most influential spaces in music and club culture. His approach to spatial design has shaped how we think about the relationship between environment and experience.
Kelly's work spans architecture, interior design, and retail environments, consistently pushing boundaries in how space can influence culture and community.
Central Themes
Destruction & Renewal
Explore how the concept of ruin becomes a creative catalyst, transforming destruction into opportunities for innovation and cultural rebirth.
Cultural Memory
Discover how fragments of the past are reimagined and reconstructed to create new narratives that speak to contemporary experience.