Playground - The design of sneakers

Sneakers Sculptures - Looks from the outside

“Sneakers sculptures” featuring sneakers by artists Shun Hirose and Helen Kirkum
“An another approach to sneakers” including sneakers designed by Philippe Starck for Puma and Marc Newson for Nike
Exhibition Playground - The design of sneakers, 2020
© Alastair Philip Wiper

Sneakers Sculptures

Shun Hirose
Shun Hirose lives in Tokyo where he has founded his own label Recouture. Inspired by the term “haute- couture” evoking highly skilled know-how, Recouture also refers to the specifi c approach of its founder who disassembles, fi xes and reconstructs. Mastering the techniques of the shoemaker, he reinvents the art of customization. On iconic models like the Nike Cortez, he applies new soles, larger or thicker, which transform the silhouette of the shoe. He also completely deconstructs the shoe upper in order to faithfully reproduce each of the components in the finest type of leather and then reassemble them identically. The Nike Air Force 1, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star and the Adidas Superstar are among his favorite models.

Air Force 1 Custom, RECOUTURE, 2019
Shun Hirose
© madd-bordeaux

Helen Kirkum
The work of Helen Kirkum is a creative exercise which consists in twisting shoes about to be thrown away. Using recycled materials and mixing the wear and the production processes, she questions our vision of materiality and novelty. This results in the creation of sneakers that we feel able to identify, and yet they amaze us.

Looks from the outside
For about twenty years, many designers and architects have gotten interested in the sneakers phenomena and have collaborated with the largest brands. They bring to this industrial object a fresh look, outside of the fashion and sport worlds. They renew the shapes, materials and construction of the shoe itself.

Playground
The design of sneakers

Interactive map

Sneakers Sculptures - Looks from the outside