The Brief
KidSuper is known for dramatic runway shows. For S/S 23, they asked me to design and produce a framed painting that transformed into a dynamic garment in real time.
The Challenges
The finale was being presented as the last painting in an art auction so it was important that the audience wasn't aware there was a model inside the painting.
1) The painting needed to remain taut within the frame, but also release from the frame in a dynamic manner once the model was ready to walk.
2) The model needed to be hidden from the audience and feel physically stable while being transported to the auction block.
3) It was much heavier than the other paintings but it needed to be carried discretely by the art handlers.
4) There was only 2 weeks to design and build the prototype in New York, and then remake an exact version in Paris so the design needed to be simple.
Final Solution Details
1) a low-profile base for the model to sit on
2) handles to keep the model balanced
3) hidden handles for the art handlers to lift the painting (it was 120 pounds heavier than all the other canvases)
4) a magnetic strip sewn into the edges of the garment
5) magnets on the back of the art frame
The Outcome
The final product resulted in the most talked about and viral moment of for KidSuper up until that point.
The most satisfying part for me was the audible gasps of surprise in the audience when the model popped through the painting.