The group exhibition Mimesis. A Living Design, held at the Centre Pompidou-Metz from 11 June 2022 to 6 February 2023, examined the evolving relationship between nature and design from the late 19th century to the present. Bringing together 400 works by 90 creators, the exhibition traced a broad trajectory—from early biomorphism to biomimicry, from biofabrication to the emergence of digitally-generated natural forms. Curated by Marie-Ange Brayer and Olivier Zeitoun, the project offered both a historical and forward-looking perspective on how nature continues to inform and transform contemporary design practices.

The exhibition began with the birth of modernity at the end of the 19th century, when artists and designers drew organic inspiration from nature to redefine form. Throughout the early 20th century, the historical avant-gardes expanded this notion by introducing ideas of organism, self-generation and structure. Within this context, Mimesis presented the iconic works of major modern designers across France, the United States, Scandinavia and Japan—including Sōri Yanagi, whose approach exemplified Japan’s distinctive contribution to organic modernism. Yanagi’s designs, shaped by gentle biomorphic lines and a deep respect for materiality, conveyed an understanding of nature not as ornament but as a structural and intuitive logic.