A Christchurch-based design team, sisters, Tatyanna and Natasha Meharry have won the 2013 Brancott Estate Supreme World of WearableArtâą (WOWÂź) Award at the 25th Anniversary WOWÂź show, taking home $30,000 in prizes.
The two-garment entry, called âThe Exchange,â was designed and made by Christchurch art tutor Tatyanna Meharry and her sister Natasha Meharry and depicts a contemporary living picture of the Treaty of Waitangi. Made entirely of ceramic feathers and coins the garment portrays the on-going act of cultural assimilation through the exchange and realisation of gifts and promises.
âThe Exchangeâ is a âpowerful, emotional and politically interestingâ garment, according to this yearâs guest judge New Zealand sculptor Christine Hellyar. âThe craftsmanship is extraordinary. It looked good and sounded good.â
Dame Suzie Moncrieff says that this yearâs Supreme WOWÂź Award Winner is truly an artwork in the most traditional sense. âThe garments evoke a deep emotional response from their audience, with the artists interpreting contemporary New Zealand in a way that resonates deeply with our cultural sense of identity. The Meharry sisters follow other great political artists like Colin McCahon in commentating on todayâs issues.â
All the judges agreed the Supreme Award winner had an optimistic message about harmony, and the two garments presented a simple, but effective, sculptural silhouette that demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship.
The Runner Up to the Brancott Estate Supreme Award is also a New Zealander â Peter Wakeman, whose garment âChica Under Glassâ was also awarded first prize in the Avant Garde Section last night. Mr Wakeman is from Motueka, near Nelson.
The garment was hand-crafted from fibreglass and plywood; ânot a mould in sight,â Mr Wakeman said.
âChica Under Glassâ featured several aspects which were sculptural, Christine Hellyar said. The garment was based on clothing, but went beyond clothing.
âIt has contrasting elements that give it vivacity. The shift in the hemline made it sculptural and took it away from being just a dress.â
The guest judges Christine Hellyar and Margi Robertson joined the Founder of WOWÂź Dame Suzie Moncrieff, on the panel. The decision-making was unanimous and every garment that had been selected to compete on stage and be modelled in the WOWÂź show, were of an equally high calibre.
WOWÂź is undeniably an international competition, Dame Suzie said, with this yearâs entries presenting an almost exact 50/50 mix of designers from New Zealand and designers from around the world; a ratio which was âvery aptâ in the showâs 25th anniversary year.
âIt is humbling and inspiring to create a show worthy of exhibiting such incredible works of wearable art.â she said.
- ‘The Exchange’ – OVERALL WINNER Tatyanna Meharry, Natasha Meharry New Zealand
- Chica Under Glass Peter Wakeman New Zealand – OVERALL RUNNER UP
- ‘The Exchange’ on stage
- ’25th Jubilee Guest’ Margarete Palz Germany – FIRST PLACE Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Art Forms in Nature
- ‘Born to Die’ Xiao Tong Guo China – SECOND PLACE Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Art Forms in Nature
- ‘Jellyfish, Coral, Sea Anemone’ Lun-chi Liu Taiwan – HONOURABLE MENTION Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Art Forms in Nature
- ‘Crazy Hair’ Wei Ting Kao Taiwan – THIRD PLACE Avant Garde Section
- ‘Hybrid’ Erica Gray Australia – HONOURABLE MENTION Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Art Forms in Nature
- ‘Inkling’ Gillian Saunders New Zealand – FIRST PLACE Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section: The Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival
- ‘Kiitos’ Chi Kin Lai Hong Kong – HONOURABLE MENTION Avant Garde Section
- ‘Nostalgic Opium’ Lau Siu San, Ka Wai Lam Hong Kong – HONOURABLE MENTION American Express Open Section
- ‘Pan Animalia’ Michelle Yeager United States – THIRD PLACE WINNER Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section: The Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival
- ‘She Only Sees With Mirrors’ Rodney Leong New Zealand – HONOURABLE MENTION Avant Garde Section
- ‘Shield” Marjolein Dallinga Canada – THIRD PLACE Gen-i Creative Excellence Section: Art Forms in Nature
- ‘The Caught Jester’ Wendy Burton New Zealand – HONOURABLE MENTION Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section: The Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival
- ‘The Exchange’