Musée de la Poste runs a marathon: discover the new Olympic exhibition

Since the dawn of time, running has been a way of getting around... But that's not all! To discover the importance of running and its cultural aspects, take advantage of the new exhibition at the Musée de la Poste: Marathon, la course du messager, on view from May 15 to September 15, 2024.

The Musée de la Poste is donning the colors of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with an exciting new exhibition focusing on running and the marathon. From May 15 to September 15, 2024, the museum takes us on a multidisciplinary, colorful and surprising journey to discover the marathon, with the exhibition Marathon, the messenger's race.

The latter, as an Olympic discipline, was invented by academician Michel Breal, a friend of Pierre de Coubertin, for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. It was inspired by the legend of the marathon runner Philippides, who died after running more than 40 kilometers to announce the Greek victory to the warlords. This mad dash to deliver information may make Philippides the ancestor of the letter carrier, in 490 BC! Starting with this messenger who left his mark on history, the Musée de la Poste takes us into the world of running and walking.

The exhibition showcases athletes and letter carriers and women, using running as a means of conveying a message, from this legend to Olympic champions Alain Mimoun and Boughéra El Ouafi, not forgetting the famous Facteur Cheval. The various sections of the exhibition evoke the art of running, the mythical moments of the Olympic Games and the history of the marathon... The artists are also interested in the body, movement and accessories that facilitate or symbolize running. The journey takes us right up to the athletes' reward, what awaits them at the finish line: the famous medal that rewards valour and effort.

Through 160 works, including film extracts, posters and newspapers, sporting objects, texts, comic strips and other works, the public is invited to discover the many facets of the race and the messenger, at the heart of the history of postal mail. Contemporary art and archival documents mingle in this journey that links art, history and sport.

The works are fascinating both for their originality and the skill of the artists, and for the information they provide about the marathon and the Olympic Games. The exhibition at the Musée de la Poste should therefore appeal to everyone! And don't worry, you won't have to run to visit this exhibition!

Marathon, the messenger's race: the Olympic exhibition at the Musée de la Poste - our photos

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