fig. from above: Yellow women's shoes (wedges) by the Iraqi-British architect, designer Zaha Hadid, 2011; Melflex PVC. Photo: Foto Wohlgemuth, Graz. Beige-white shoes with floral inspired pattern, red heels and brown bow for the Viennese actress Charlotte Wolter by the Austrian painter, costume/stage setting designer Hans Makart, 1870ies; leather, silk. Courtesy of the Austrian Theater Museum in Vienna. Photo: KHM Wien.

Past, presence and future of shoes

...is the theme of the cultural history exhibition from 12 April 2013 until 12 January 2014 at the Museum im Palais/Universalmuseum Joanneum in Graz, Austria. The title of the exhibition 'Ihr Auftritt!' has in German language a double-meaning. It can mean 'That's your call!' from the theatre world or it can be interpreted from another performative side as the feet's coming up on the floor. The possible interpretations of the exhibition's German title reflect the concept of 'Ihr Auftritt!' quite well as curator Eva Marko collected pieces for different sights on 'shoes' - from the fashion aspect to sport over technology, even the glamorous aspect of celebrity footwear is included into the show.

The exhibition will present shoes from ancient times such as an approximately 3000 years old leather shoe, contemporary shoes like motor racing ankle boots, and visionary future designs of sport shoes. The visionary designs are provided by the students of the course 'Industrial Design' of the senior college degree program at the FH Joanneum/Universities of Applied Sciences (FHStG) in Graz, Styria.

fig. below, from left: Drawstring shoe from around 700 B.C.; cowskin; archaeological find: Salzbergwerk Hallstatt, Upper Austria. Courtesy of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna. Photo: NHM Wien.
Racing shoe of the 3-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, 2012. Photo: UMJ.




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