Nishi Bassi Talks ‘80s Exhibition at Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Shoe Museum curator Nishi Bassi shares an inside look into her curatorial process for the Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s exhibition
In its latest exhibition curated by Nishi Bassi, Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s, the Bata Shoe Museum leans into cultural nostalgia with a sizeable footwear collection from the most epic, tubular decade: the 1980s. From Reebok Freestyles and original Air Jordans to Brothel Creepers and jelly shoes, this exhibition covers the cultural and social mindsets of the era from toe to heel. Gag me with a spoon!
The exhibit does more than offer a glimpse of a decade in fashion. It captures a chapter of consumerist culture fueled by advertisements, music videos, and films designed to sell the idea of ‘having it all.’
The ’80s mall set design lays the foundation for the Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s exhibition.
Curious about the intricacies behind building such an exhibition, we caught up with museum curator Nishi Bassi who shared the ins and outs of her curatorial process, revealing some of her favourite items and the most profound thematic touchstones throughout.
Designlines: What made you choose this project as your solo curatorial debut?
Nishi Bassi: It started a bit jokingly. I talked about doing an 80s exhibition called Too Soon? and all my coworkers who are a generation older than me laughed. Then, I thought ‘Why don’t I look at the ‘80s?’. I chose to think about it critically while using the opportunity to add more footwear to the collection and simultaneously explore a decade that seems to be increasingly popular in pop culture.
Nishi Bassi, curator of the Dressed to Impress exhibiton.
DL: What is your curatorial process like?
Bassi: It usually starts by determining what objects I have available to work with. I had the official idea, and the parameters were clear: it had to be the 1980s. So, I took a closer look at the artifacts and started doing research into what themes were popping up for me. Every pair of shoes can tell a million stories, depending on how you frame it.
DL: How have people reacted to the exhibition?
Bassi: We’ve seen a lot of people! Those over who remember the 80s are especially taken right back. I hear a lot of ‘this is so familiar to me!’ From the neon colours to the mall design, there’s a nostalgic response.
DL: Any favourite pieces?
Bassi: One of my favourites is a pair of Ralph Lauren riding boots that are just the quintessential rich girl look from the 80s and it’s the same style of boot that Molly Ringwald wears in The Breakfast Club.
Black Gucci loafters, 1980-89; Nike Cortez running shoes, 1984.
DL: How does this exhibit represent the museum and its mission?
Bassi: The BSM’s mission is to communicate the central role of footwear in the social and cultural life of humanity, and we express this through all of our exhibitions. What’s interesting about footwear is that it’s ubiquitous. We all wear shoes, yet people rarely think about how footwear reflects complex concepts from gender politics to the symbols of wealth and status. Something that we aim to do at the museum is take an object that’s so familiar and flip it on its head to get people thinking critically.
The Vivienne Westwood Pirate boots, 2020-2023.
DL: What do you hope visitors will take away from this exhibition?
Bassi: When I started at the museum, I was a volunteer working at the front desk. Sometimes, visitors would enter with an assumption that footwear is gendered and that the museum was catered to women. What we try to do at the museum is just play with those ideas. What are the unconscious assumptions that you came in with and how can we unpack those?
Design Details
Courtesy of Arc & Co.’s Robert Joel Cortez
Malls, music videos, Memphis design, and more. That’s what you can expect at the Bata Shoe Museum’s latest exhibition thanks to local design collective Arc & Co. In a longstanding partnership with the museum – with no less than seven showcases under his belt – partner and creative director Robert Joel Cortez explains how he and his team designed Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s.
A wide shot of the exhibition space.
The Concept
We chose to transform the exhibition space into a representation of a 1980s mall, a concept that not only aligns with the exhibition’s narrative on the era’s excess and rampant consumerism but also serves as an immersive medium to encapsulate the quintessential 1980s experience.
Shaped LED lights juxtapose classic 80s motifs on the sign of the Dressed to Impress: Footwear and Consumerism in the 1980s exhibition.
The Production
Carefully curated within artifact conservation and preservation guidelines, we opted for graphic wallpapers and laminates, which are versatile in recreating period-specific themes. To further enhance the thematic atmosphere, we incorporated coloured LED light strips and Memphis-style velvet fabric, carefully selected to convey a distinctive ‘80s feel.
Displays of ’80s paraphernalia add to the atmosphere.
The Design
The design elements – ranging from the layout and store window display to the choice of materials, graphic treatment, floral styling and lighting – were selected to evoke the era’s commercial vibrancy and influence.
