Virgil Abloh: Commemorating a Catalyst of Contemporary Culture

Woc (Flavio Rossi): Artistic Synergies with Virgil

Italian artist Flavio Rossi, known as Woc, explores the rich symbolism embedded within modern digital images, from web photos to brand logos. In his collaboration with Virgil Abloh, they showcased the seamless blend of digital art and fashion, crafting aesthetics that resonate in today’s tech-centric world. This isn’t just a fusion of art forms; it’s a commentary on our evolving interaction with art in a digital age. Here, we dive into a candid conversation with Woc to understand this synergy better.

Fakewhale: Your collaboration with Virgil Abloh began with a virtual interaction that led to your involvement with Off White. Can you delve into how this collaboration shaped your approach to digital art and symbolism in the contemporary era?

Woc: My collaboration with Virgil began through a Direct Message I received on Instagram shortly after tagging him in a drawing I had posted. This mode of communication was as informal as it was unimaginable when considered as the starting point of a working collaboration with the most influential creative director in the world at the time. From that moment on, the internet, social media, and internet language have not taken on a different value for me. I had been using Instagram for a while, seeking both promotional and professional feedback, and this dynamic simply confirmed the importance of the web as a vehicle, a source of inspiration, and a platform to promote and showcase creative ideas.
The collaboration lasted for approximately three years and was entirely virtual; we never met in person. To this day, I believe that few artists truly understand how to navigate the vast digital world to make the most of both virtual and real possibilities that the internet provides.In the contemporary era, it would be wonderful to aspire to and witness a broader and more natural integration between physical art and technology, between the internet and real life.

Fakewhale: Were there any specific projects you and Virgil worked on that you find particularly impactful on your artistic journey?

Woc: Many projects have been particularly meaningful to me, especially those that received positive feedback and were effectively used and commercialized.
For example, the artwork featuring Michael Jackson used on various items in the Men’s SS 2019 collection or the one featuring Paris Hilton, printed on a staff t-shirt for the Women SS 2018 runaway show in Paris, which Virgil wore on several official occasions.
Creating commissioned artworks for his private collection was undoubtedly significant as well, along with working on projects that didn’t come to fruition, such as some artworks for Kid Cudi or Rage Against The Machine merchandise.

Fakewhale: Virgil Abloh has revolutionized the world of design by bridging street philosophy with fashion dynamics. How do you think this approach has influenced both current and future generations of creatives and consumers?

Woc: Virgil has revolutionized not only the world of streetwear and design but, in my opinion, has proven to be a true creator of a remarkably successful creative business model.
Contextualizing a street product within the fashion commercial system has led to mass engagement and an almost feverish interest from a broad and youthful audience in the concept and products of a brand. Off-White was founded in 2013, and seven years later, in 2020, it emerged as the world’s most coveted brand.
Considering the various positive and negative aspects that such a project may encounter and the dynamics that led to such a rapid rise in Abloh’s name, his figure can only be a source of extreme inspiration and a reference point for young designers, artists, and creatives worldwide.

Fakewhale: Are there elements of Virgil Abloh’s design ethos that continue to inspire your work or that you aim to explore in your future projects?

Woc: Virgil’s approach to creative engagement, transcending spatial, conceptual, and temporal barriers throughout his career, has been a fundamental source of inspiration for me. Virgil had the ability to engage and converse in the same way with the creativity of a young, unknown artist like me, as he did with legendary figures like Futura 2000, a pioneer and inventor of graffiti art.
The multidisciplinary nature of creative ideas and the ability to consistently shape and adapt an artistic concept in the realms of fashion, design, and music is an objective I aspire to work on and improve day by day.

Fakewhale: How do you think the fusion of digital art and fashion, as seen in your collaboration with Virgil Abloh, contributes to evolving contemporary aesthetic narratives?

Woc: The fusion of art and fashion has existed for a long time. Consider iconic Yves Saint Laurent pieces inspired by Piet Mondrian’s works or the more recent expressionist collections created by the painter Sterling Ruby.
Today, in the era of full digital development, the expressive language of digital art seems to connect strongly with that of fashion, especially regarding the creation of artistic and promotional content. I hope that the intersection of fashion and digital art gains increasing coherence and harmony over time, moving away from what can be seen as more stylized and video game-like aspects, which, in my opinion, may not align well with the language of fashion. Instead, it should focus on the real material, historical, and conceptual aspects of clothing.