konstantin grcic curates exhibition on future of design & sport in paris during 2024 olympics

konstantin grcic’s exhibition and the future of design & sport

At Musée du Luxembourg, Konstantin Grcic curates the exhibition MATCH: Design & Sport, an exploration into the future and role of design in sports. The show coincides with the Paris 2024 Olympics, which runs between July 26th and August 11th, and 150 pieces and objects related to sports such as skateboarding are on display in the exhibition, from unique historical pieces, signature icons, commercial products, prototypes, models and commissioned pieces to drawings, prints, projections, films, and  interactive applications. 

Running from March 13th to August 11th, 2024, the exhibition aims to highlight design in sports that goes beyond the shape, look, and feel of a running shoe or racket. The show begins with the classical image of an athlete and the notion of the superhero or super-athlete, in the form of the Greek sculpture, Diskobolos of Myron. As visitors roam around, they find stadium architecture and sports symbolisms that tie up with social and political impacts. These include the Temporary Autonomous Zone model by Didier Faustino, which is a variation of a fight club, and the replica of the JogBra from 1977, invented by Lisa Lindahl, Polly Smith and Hinda Miller.

MATCH: Design & Sport – A Story Looking to the Future | exhibition design by Konstantin Grcic | all images courtesy of Grand Palais RMN and Musée du Luxembourg | all photos © Didier Plowy for GrandPalaisRmn, 2024, unless stated otherwise

technology in the midst of design and sports

Other objects and important pieces in Konstantin Grcic’s curation for the exhibition MATCH: Design & Sport can be linked to the Paris 2024 Olympics as well as how technology can help put forward the development and breakthroughs related between design and sports. Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas shows up in the exhibition as a point of discussion between technology, sports, and design, while Versa Foot + Moto Knee Prosthetic Leg assembly by Mike Schulz and g.Nautilus RESEARCH, an EEG Headset used in brain computer interfaces, even further the relationship of technology with design and sports.

In a conversation with Musée du Luxembourg, Konstantin Grcic says some key pieces in the exhibition may underscore the relevance of technology in improving the design for sports. He mentioned 3D-printed helmet inlay, which evolved from the piece of foam that acts as a padding to protect an athlete’s head. Now, designers can use 3D printing for helmets and make them tighter and stronger than before. The curator also brings up Speedgate, a new field game that was designed by artificial intelligence. He adds that it is included in the exhibition to show how design is also about the design of the rules and regulations of a game.

visual of the exhibition MATCH: Design & sport – a story turned towards the future, scenography by Konstantin Grcic

MATCH: Design & Sport can shed light on Paris 2024 Olympics

Konstantin Grcic and MATCH: Design & Sport hope that by the end of the exhibition, visitors are informed and more aware of design’s role in sports and how the former is now focusing on new opportunities with regards to the latter, especially with the use of AI and data. ‘Beyond the rising importance of data which I mentioned earlier, I believe many elements of sports will stay the same. I especially believe humans will always be at the center of sport because people are what make sport sport. The fascination with and emotions surrounding sport are all very human, and the athlete will always be at the center of the game,’ says the curator in a conversation with Musée du Luxembourg.

Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics are coming up, and the exhibition may offer the future of sports without formulating a specific opinion or interpretation. It lays down objects and pieces from robotics, technology, and the general digitization of sports too to pose the role of design in various games and activities. This overarching vision, put forward by Konstantin Grcic, is reflected in the very last image of the show, which is a quote from the Olympic Charter: The Practice of Sport is a Human Right. ‘Though, data, technology, and digitalization will continue to drive developments. Technological developments will bring us much closer to the game,’ adds Konstantin Grcic. The exhibition MATCH: Design & Sport is on display at the Musée du Luxembourg until August 11th, 2024. 

visual of the exhibition MATCH: Design & sport – a story turned towards the future, scenography by Konstantin Grcic

Hermès Selle Faubourg showjumping saddle 2023 | image © Hermes

Hirondelle Superb, Manufrance, 1889, collection of the museum of art and industry of the city of Saint-Etienne | photo by Hubert Genouilhac

Luigi Colani & Fritz, Egli Egli Colani MRD-1 Motorcycle, 1986, 80 x 120 x 260 cm | image © Jo SoppaSIRS

visual of the exhibition MATCH: Design & sport – a story turned towards the future, scenography by Konstantin Grcic

Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas inside MATCH: Design & sport

visual of the exhibition MATCH: Design & sport – a story turned towards the future, scenography by Konstantin Grcic

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Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robot 2019 180 cm | image © Boston Dynamics

Design Rio 2016 Design Team Athletics pictogram (Rio de Janeiro) 2016 | image © International Paralympic Committee

240124 bicycle helmet

Design Lisa Lindahl, Polly Smith, Hinda MillerJogBra®, the first prototype of the sports bra, recreated for the exhibition MATCH, 1977, 30 x 30 cm, | image © JogBra®

Bamboo bicycle | image © Bamboo Bicycle Club Team

Design Katsumi Masaru, oshiro Yamashita, Boxing Pictogram (Tokyo) 1964 | image © International Olympic Committee

project info:

name: MATCH Design & Sport – A Story Looking to the Future

chief curator and exhibition design: Konstantin Grcic

exhibition museum: Musée du Luxembourg

location: 19 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France

dates: March 13th to August 11th, 2024

photographer: Didier Plowy

exhibition producer: GrandPalaisRmn

project leader: Nathalie Opris

delegated project architect: Jean-Christophe Denise

catalog and exhibition graphics: Bureau Borsche

project leader: Kolja Buscher

special commission: Nicolas Bourquin and Sven Ehmann