Exhibition from February 17th to May 26th in Düsseldorf shows 250 pairs
Sneakers are more than just shoes: from a childhood wish to a status symbol to a fashionable and political statement. Sneakers have experienced rapid growth since the 1980s. The basketball and hip-hop scenes took him from the sports field first to the street, into the mainstream and finally onto the catwalks of luxury labels.
An exhibition at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf from February 17 to May 26, 2024 celebrates the cult object and shows around 250 pairs, including collectibles, design classics and social media icons. Visitors enter the exhibition through an oversized shoe box in which perhaps the most sought-after sneaker in the world is displayed: In 1989, the legendary Nike Mag was seen as a prototype in the film Back to the Future II. Around 25 years later it came onto the market in a limited edition. In the exhibition, the original film prop shoe is shown alongside the fully functional model with automatic lacing and LEDs.
Why and by whom did sneakers become legends? At the beginning of the presentation, their origins in sport and music are highlighted and a success story is told using originals such as the Adidas Superstar from the 1970s: the original sporting item becomes a lifestyle object and takes root in schoolyards. Particularly important for the beginning is the Air Jordan series, a collaboration between Nike and basketball legend Michael Jordan. A highlight is the complete series of the Air Jordan 1 from 1985 in all 20 color variations and mainly unworn (deadstock), which only a handful of collectors worldwide own.
“Today there is a real hype surrounding sneakers, which is focused on in the main part of the exhibition. Brands are starting collaborations with stars and artists, international brands and even designers like Virgil Abloh and Ruohan Wang. “In addition, there are always unusual and surprising collaborations – such as with Lego, Ben & Jerry’s, Star Wars or Tiffany,” says curator Alina Fuchte. On display are design objects such as the complete series of the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Friends & Family Collection, the Adidas Lego Superstar to build yourself, the Nike Air Force 1 Tiffany & Co. 1837 and the “KOI” collaboration between Asics and the Düsseldorf store AFEW.
Sneakers are collected worldwide, can sometimes cost thousands of euros and sell out after just a few seconds. The Nike SB Pigeon Dunk made it to the front page of the New York Post in 2005 in connection with the “Sneaker Riot”: young people were camping in front of the New York store days before the start of sales, the police tried to keep the crowd at bay and the lucky ones, Those who got hold of a copy were driven home by taxi for safety reasons.
The hunt for the shoes now takes place online in the form of so-called “drops” or “raffles”. Many shoes go viral through their presence on Instagram or TikTok, such as the Big Red Boots by the New York collective MSCHF, which are also shown in the exhibition. In addition to futuristic designs, the final chapter of the exhibition will feature sneakers with innovative technologies such as augmented reality 3D printing and NFTs. With a view to the future of sneaker culture, consumer-critical and resource-saving approaches will also be presented.
