Kate S

CV



World of Wearable Art
Promotional Installation
Project Designer
  Workshop E
QT Museum Hotel Gallery, Wellington
2019


The World of WearableArt (WOW) is an annual celebration and awards show that showcases abstract and avant-garde fashion. Although the show is based in New Zealand, it draws designers and audiences from over 40 countries, making it a significant event on the international stage—and a major driver of tourism for New Zealand.

At Workshop E, we were approached by WOW to design and construct a promotional installation in a small gallery space at the QT Hotel in Wellington, one of WOW’s key sponsors. While the project was relatively small and guided by a clear brief, the lead designers at Workshop E entrusted me with the opportunity to take the lead role—allowing me to manage the design and execution of the installation from start to finish.


 The theme for the 2019 WOW show was Out of This World, so it was essential that the installation reflected a sense of the surreal and otherworldly. In addition to aligning with the theme, I had to navigate several key constraints: the garments needed protection from direct sunlight streaming through the gallery's end windows; the budget was extremely limited—just a few hundred dollars; and we were not permitted to make any permanent changes to the gallery space, such as painting walls or adding fixtures.


I developed a concept for an "alien, otherworldly" web-like structure that balanced form and function. The design filtered harsh sunlight in denser areas to protect the garments, while creating semi-obscured sightlines that encouraged viewers to move around the space. This intentional layering of visibility invited audiences to engage with the installation from multiple angles, enhancing their appreciation of the garments' intricate details.
 To answer the constraints of a tight budget and the need for a non-permanent installation, I worked with our studio production team to design lightweight plywood frames that fit neatly within the existing window panels. Each frame was lined with pins spaced at one-centimeter intervals. To achieve the web-like effect, we used over 2 kilometers of recycled fishing nylon, which I hand-wove between the pins to create a dynamic, layered structure. I completed all the weaving in-studio over the course of a week, then transported the panels to the site, where I added additional webbing as needed to integrate the installation seamlessly into the space.