The Design Museum in London will host ‘Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style’ from March 28 to August 17, 2025, featuring iconic swimwear and historical artifacts.
The Design Museum in London has announced a significant exhibition titled “Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style,” set to run from March 28 to August 17, 2025. This exhibition aims to explore the historical and cultural evolution of swimming in the UK over the past century. Among the exhibition’s key highlights is the iconic red swimsuit worn by Pamela Anderson, representing her character CJ Parker in the widely popular 1990s television series “Baywatch.”
Widely regarded as one of the most recognizable pieces of swimwear ever created, Anderson’s swimsuit is a central feature of the exhibition and serves as a connection to the show’s immense popularity, which captured the attention of more than 1.1 billion viewers worldwide. The garment, loaned to the Design Museum from the BikiniARTmuseum in Germany, is particularly notable as it was part of Anderson’s wardrobe during her appearance on “Baywatch” between 1992 and 1997. The swimsuit was previously acquired from the collection of Anderson’s co-star, David Hasselhoff, and All-American Television in 2023.
The “Splash!” exhibition will also display a range of other remarkable items related to swimming, including the first Olympic solo swimming gold medal won by a British woman and a pair of Speedos worn by British diver Tom Daley at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The exhibition features over 200 objects sourced from around 50 lenders across Europe, examining the societal, cultural, technological, and environmental links to swimming.
Amber Butchart, a dress and design historian and the guest curator for the exhibition, expressed enthusiasm about showcasing Anderson’s swimsuit: “It’s incredible to be showing Pamela Anderson’s iconic Baywatch swimsuit in the exhibition, especially at this pivotal point when she has reclaimed her own image, and has designed and modeled her own swimwear,” she stated. Butchart also noted her connection to coastal living and how swimming and swimwear reflect broader societal changes over the past century, highlighting issues of bodily autonomy and leisure activities.
Tim Marlow, the Director and CEO of the Design Museum, elaborated on the significance of the exhibition, stating, “The story of swimming is more than just a story of sport… By examining the culture of swimming through the lens of design, we explore a range of evolving ideas about the way we have lived from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present.”
In addition to the highlights mentioned, the exhibition will also delve into the impact of design on swimming through various themes, including performance, well-being, and environmental considerations, illustrating how swimming remains an integral part of leisure and culture.
Source: Noah Wire Services
