Nike is presenting at Seoul National University's First Power Plant from September 19 to 21. The exhibition brings back the Moon Shoe, recently reimagined on the Jacquemus runway, alongside archival Moon Shoes and works by eight collaborating artists.
The first floor, 'Prototype,' lays bare the raw experiments and sketches without any filter. The second floor, 'Rendition,' showcases eight masterpieces born from that rigorous process. The spatial division mirrors the Moon Shoe's philosophy of valuing process over perfection. Each floor holds its own narrative, yet together they form a single, flowing story.
The real showstopper is the specially designed glass floor installed on the second level. Through it, visitors can look directly down at the production process unfolding below. It translates the journey from experimentation to result into a thrilling spatial experience. A single visual device turns the relationship between process and completion into something tangible and three-dimensional.
The Moon Shoe was created in 1972 by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, who famously pressed rubber into a waffle iron to craft the sole. Relentless experimentation for a lighter, tougher base became the shoe's DNA. This exhibition offers a rare chance to see the original archive pieces up close. If you're curious how innovation leaves its mark, this is an exhibition worth visiting.
The first floor, 'Prototype,' lays bare the raw experiments and sketches without any filter. The second floor, 'Rendition,' showcases eight masterpieces born from that rigorous process. The spatial division mirrors the Moon Shoe's philosophy of valuing process over perfection. Each floor holds its own narrative, yet together they form a single, flowing story.
The real showstopper is the specially designed glass floor installed on the second level. Through it, visitors can look directly down at the production process unfolding below. It translates the journey from experimentation to result into a thrilling spatial experience. A single visual device turns the relationship between process and completion into something tangible and three-dimensional.
The Moon Shoe was created in 1972 by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, who famously pressed rubber into a waffle iron to craft the sole. Relentless experimentation for a lighter, tougher base became the shoe's DNA. This exhibition offers a rare chance to see the original archive pieces up close. If you're curious how innovation leaves its mark, this is an exhibition worth visiting.
FAQ
When and where is the Nike Moon Shoe exhibition Version 0: Prototype taking place?
It runs from Saturday, September 19 through Monday, September 21, 2026, at Seoul National University's Power Plant No. 1 (68 Gwanak Campus, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul). The three-day exhibition showcases Nike Moon Shoe archives and works by eight artists.
How was the Nike Moon Shoe created?
In 1972, Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman pressed rubber into a waffle iron to create the sole. His relentless experiments for a lightweight, durable sole formed the Moon Shoe's DNA, and this exhibition reveals that process alongside original archival pieces.
What's the most striking spatial design element in the Nike Moon Shoe exhibition?
The special glass floor installed on the second level. Through it, visitors can look down at the first-floor production process below, experiencing the flow from experimentation to outcome in a dimensional, immersive way.
