'Forever Valentino' is the most comprehensive exhibition of the Italian house to date, taking viewers on a colorful journey through Valentino's past and present with more than 200 pieces spanning from its inception in 1959 to the current tenure of Pierpaolo Piccioli's creative director. . Held at M7, the design hub of Msheireb Downtown Doha, the event also coincides with the ongoing birthday celebrations of the fashion house's founder, Valentino Garavani, who turned 90 last May.
“The name of the exhibition says it all. Forever,” Piccioli says. “The value of Maison Valentino is timeless, constantly evolving and revealing its originality. This 60-year experience was made possible by the work of a fashion designer named Valentino Garavani, whose vision is still relevant today. Our conscious legacy has always moved towards the future and the complexity of humanity. This balance sparked my aesthetic idea of the exhibition, which is not a retrospective but an act of love.”
'Forever Valentino' is curated by the art direction of New Museum New York, Massimilano Gioni and fashion critic Alexander Fury in collaboration with Piccioli. The panoramic installation featuring mannequins from La Rosa, known for her recycled and sustainable designs made in Italy, features both recognizable and rarely seen pieces designed over the years for Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy and Zendaya, among others. Valentino's hometown of Rome is a particular focal point evoked in the scenography of the exhibition, as well as in the pieces themselves, which follow the house's roots in Romanesque design, architecture and la dolce vita.
"Valentino Garavani's legacy, and therefore Valentino's meaning, is to celebrate beauty in all its incarnations, from all walks of life and all time periods. This noble pursuit, the relentless pursuit and celebration of beauty to make the world better, is Forever Valentino to me." Alexander Fury
The collaboration with Qatar, a year-round cultural movement led by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, sister of the Emir of Qatar, aimed at promoting art, culture and fashion in Qatar.
Forever Valentino can be visited between 28 October 2022 & 1 April 2023.