Michelin's 'Vision' concept tire part of Smithsonian design exhibit
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GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Smithsonian Institution plans to include Group Michelin's "Vision" non-pneumatic concept tire in an upcoming exhibit paying tribute to scientific and technological advancements that simulate and support nature.
The exhibit, dubbed "Nature — Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial," is scheduled to run May 10 to Jan. 20, 2020, simultaneously at the Cube design museum in Kerkrade, Netherlands, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
It features more 60 works covering a variety of disciplines, including architecture, product design, landscape and fashion, and is intended to explore the ways scientists and engineers work with farmers and environmentalists to design sustainable and innovative products that support a "regenerative future."
"Conceived at the start of a new millennium, Cooper Hewitt's Triennial series brings a global view of design to the U.S. to inform conversations on a broad range of issues," Cooper Hewitt Director Caroline Baumann said.
"The 2019 Triennial will confront humanity's biggest challenge yet — climate change — and asks all of us to re-evaluate our relationship with nature," Ms. Baumann said.
"Opening the Triennial simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic will amplify that message and paves the way for leaders and communities from all sectors to engage with design in this important dialogue."
Unveiled at the Movin' On Summit in 2017, Vision is a connected tire that provides critical feedback to drivers. It also embraces 3D printing technologies to manufacture and renew tread made of recycled and biosourced parts, making it, Michelin claims, 100-percent recyclable.
Michelin noted that its commitment to sustainability goes beyond concept tires.
At the 2018 Movin'On event, the tire maker unveiled plans for its tires to contain 80 percent sustainable materials by 2048. Today, Michelin said, its tires contain 28 percent biosourced materials, including products such as natural rubber, sunflower oil and limonene.
By 2048, Michelin also plans to have 100 percent of its tires collected and recycled. Today, 70 percent of its tires are collected and half are recycled.
The Triennial series, begun in 2000, explores developments in design from around the world. "Nature – Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial" is supported by the August Heckscher Exhibition Fund, Esme Usdan Exhibition Endowment Fund and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Cooper Hewitt, located along New York City's Museum Mile, is home to a diverse and comprehensive design collection that comprises more than 210,000 objects from time periods ranging from ancient Egypt to the present. More information is available at cooperhewitt.org.
The Cube Design Museum in Kerkrade is the first in the Netherlands devoted entirely to design. In addition to exhibitions, the museum serves as a hub of innovation where visitors, students and designers can collaborate on projects in a laboratory setting. Additional information can be found at www.cubedesignmuseum.nl/en.
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