World of Wearable Art (WOW). Auckland Museum

Bizarre Bra of Cactus and Cloth, Prickly Heat by Wendy Moyer (Mexico) 2010. WOW at the Auckland Museum

When we were in Auckland, we visited the Auckland museum and came across an exhibition for WOW (World of Wearable Art). In 1987, WOW founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff had an idea, she would get art off the walls and onto the body. Over 25 years later, thousands of artists have translated her vision into their own unique pieces of wearable art. These spectacular creations from WOW’s archives prove that the only limit to wearable art is the artist’s imagination. Some come from a technical challenge. Some show everyday materials transformed into something extraordinary. Some are aimed to simply delight the eye. WOW’s judges look for originality, creativity and skill in construction. Get up close to these exquisitely detailed artworks and you’ll see why they’re show-stoppers. What started as a promotion for a small rural gallery in 1987 has now gained an iconic status within New Zealand.

Chica Under Glass by Peter Wakeman (New Zealand) 2013. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Skin by Marjolein Dallinga (Canada) 2011. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Second Skin by Hayley May & Fiona Christy (New Zealand) 2009. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Second Skin by Hayley May & Fiona Christy (New Zealand) 2009. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Hylonome by Mary Wing To (United Kingdom) 2011. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Loops by Yogesh Chauhdary & Manus Barve (India) 2010. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Loops by Yogesh Chauhdary & Manus Barve (India) 2010. WOW at the Auckland Museum

In the Op by Ling Lay Kit Ling 2012. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Lady of the Wood by David Walker 2009. WOW at the Auckland Museum

American Dream by Sarah Thomas (New Zealand) 2009. WOW at the Auckland Museum

• “The garments don’t have to be commercially viable. They don’t have to take themselves seriously. They just have to be wearable.”
• “Wearable art enables designers to step out of the constraints of fashion and see the body as a blank canvas for any idea that comes to them. The more provocative, unorthodox and original, the better!”

Quotes from Dame Suzie Moncrieff, founder of WOW.

Le Tatau by Lindah Lepou (New Zealand) 2006. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Gothic Habit by Lynn Christiansen (United States) 2014. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Horridus by Lynn Christiansen (United States) 2010. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Totally Sheepish by Sarah Peacock (New Zealand) 2012. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Inkling by Gillian Saunders (New Zealand) 2013. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Hermecua by Jan Ker (New Zealand) 2011. WOW at the Auckland Museum

“The door is open to anything; painting, sculpture, textiles, costuming, engineering and even electronics. Any skill can be adapted to make wearable art, any idea can take shape on the body.” Adapted from Wearable Art: Design for the Body by Naomi O’Connor, Craig Potton Publishers, Nelson, 1996

Bizarre Bra, Busted by Rodney Thorburn (New Zealand) 2008. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Bizarre Bra, Hands Off by Mark Crocker (New Zealand) 1998. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Budgerigar Brassiere by Emily Valentine Bullock (New Zealand) 2002. WOW at the Auckland Museum

Bizarre Bra, Epicentre Divas by Claire Third (New Zealand) 2012. WOW at the Auckland Museum

aBRAcalypse Now by Wendy Moyer (Mexico) 2012. WOW at the Auckland Museum

As Salvador Dali once said, “The one thing the world the world will never have enough of is the outrageous.” If I had to pick one word to describe these creations it would certainly be outrageous but inventive, unbelievable and beautiful would also be on the list. There were also tender moments in the exhibition, like the Budgerigar Brassiere by Emily Valentine which commerates the death of her dearly loved birds. In her words, “inspired by the death of my “budgies”, they are close to my bosom”. This was one of the best exhibitions we have seen in a long time and you can see them in person in Nelson, New Zealand at the WOW museum (they also have cars). They had videos of the show playing which were even better, check out YouTube to see them. Starting in 2005 WOW is staged in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, with a number of performances from the end of September to the early part of October with designers from around the world. Consider getting a ticket and attend the show.

References:

WOW Website: http://worldofwearableart.com/

WOW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldofWearableArt

WOW YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/user/WorldofWearableArt

WOW Museum: http://www.wowcars.co.nz/

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