Nike running shoes were suspended around an illuminated track as though on the feet of eight invisible athletes for this installation at Beijing's 798 arts district by Shanghai design office Studio-at-Large (+ slideshow).
As a one-day launch for the 2013 Nike Free collection, the installation presented the different colour combinations of the shoes around a five-lane running track, with some appearing frozen in motion while others lay flat.
A dark-tinted mirror mimicking the shape of the track was positioned directly above and brightly coloured garments were suspended around the perimeter like a row of spectators.
Entitled The Track, this installation was the second of three zones designed by Studio-at-Large for the Nike Free launch event.
The first was an exhibition designed to explain the history of the collection using a system of triangular display stands.
The Finish Line was the third zone in the space, where visitors were invited to sit on rows of benches and use headphones to listen to speeches from different athletes.
First images of the Nike Free Trainer 5.0 were revealed on Dezeen a few weeks ago and the shoe features a criss-crossing body that reference a Chinese finger trap.
Other installations by Nike include a colourful web in a rusting gas tower for the Flyknit collection and a set of motion-sensitive LED walls at the east London Boxpark store. Watch a movie we filmed at the NikeFuel Station at Boxpark or see more stories about Nike.
Photography is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.
Here are some details from Studio-at-Large:
Nike Free 2013 (Greater China)
The latest generation of Nike Free was introduced in Beijing’s 798 art district in an environment designed to highlight the natural motion running franchise's pedigree of athletic innovation and enhanced aesthetics.
The installation was divided into three key spaces: The A-Z of Nike Free; The Track; The Finish Line. The first drew inspiration from the flexible shoe's geometric outsole to present an interactive experience of imagery, video, and objects that reveal the story and design process behind the Free, whose development dates to 2001.
With the impression of walking into a stadium, visitors entered The Track, where the LED circuit was mirrored from above, adding a depth of vision and light to the space. Complementing the dynamic collection, the illuminated track lines interacted and highlighted the vibrant colorways and sleek silhouette of the product.
Reminiscent of crossing the final racing line, the presentation space in the third area used thin-layered walls to frame the spatial experience for the audience to engage with guest speakers including American Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix and Chinese sprinter Wei Yongli.
Event: Nike Free 2013 Media Showroom and Exhibition, Greater China
Location: Beijing, China
Date: March 2013
Design Firm: Studio-at-Large
Design Director: Albert Tien
Architect: Ryan Newman (R&D Office)
Designers: Lawrence Wu, Vladimir Dubko