World of Wearable Arts’ 2024 Show Dream Awake leaves Fraser Shaw awe-inspired!
Wellington has had a bit of a bad run lately – Government worker lay-offs, water woes, ongoing bike lane construction…
But one thing Wellington gets right every time is the World of Wearable Arts show (affectionately known as ‘WOW’). A fusion and celebration of the creativity that our capital is famous for, the theme for this year’s show, ‘Dream Awake’, takes the audience on a journey through six awe-inspiring realms, where the boundaries of theatrical spectacle, live music, dance, aerial choreography and wearable art are pushed to the extreme.
This year’s competition featured 90 finalist designs from 35 countries. These designs spanned six themed categories: Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival, Natural World and Geometric Abstract.
The Supreme award winner, ‘Curves Ahead’, by United States designer Grace Duval, is a high-vis design, inspired by the resilience and future-focus of the Christchurch post-quake rebuild. The curvaceous silhouette is made from hand-draped vinyl construction signs with a ruffle of plastic mesh fencing material. A dramatic headpiece constructed out of road cones completes the look.
But this show is so much more than just the actual competition. It is a true showcase of the arts. An array of performers interweave through the whole night. The multi-talented singer, dancer, and roller-skater, Sharn Te Pou, plays The Dreamer, leading us on the journey, magically appearing, dropping down from the sky, or climbing out of a lone suitcase as if moving through different dream sequences.
The 90-minute musical soundtrack features modern reworks of some kiwi classics including ‘I See Red’ by Split Enz, ‘Poi E’ by Patea Maori Club and a te reo version of Lorde’s ‘Royals’ sung by a live choir.
I last attended WOW in 2018 and it just continues to grow and evolve, embracing and highlighting accessibility, diversity and sustainability. Disabled performer Rodney Bell (Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Rora) dazzled the audience with his aerial rope display. An NZSL interpreter translated the awards section of the night. Entrants for the Sustainability award must use at least 85% recycled materials that can also be readily recycled and/or composted at end-of-life.
While WOW has always been a showcase of wearable art’s potential, the 2024 edition raised the bar with its ambitious scale, artistic diversity, and immersive presentation. It’s a must-see for anyone fascinated by the intersection of art, fashion, and innovation. A true feast for the senses, WOW continues to cement its reputation as one of the most exciting and imaginative cultural events on the global stage.
Main category winners:
Natural World – ‘Soudscape’ by Ashish Dhaka, India
Geometric Abstraction – ‘Walkin’ Wardrobe’ by Laurel Judd, New Zealand
Aotearoa – ‘Kārearea’ by Kayla Christensen, New Zealand
Avant-Garde – ‘Curves Ahead’ by Grace Duval, United States
Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival – ‘Gigi the Wyrm of Spinelesque’ by Sean Purucker & Tony Rivas, United States
Open – ‘He Art’ by Xuancheng Liu & Jingyi Lin, China
