Hair Vision

June 2023 - July 2023

Group installation created for the UIA World Congress Student Academy exhibition, A Society Built for Every Body, focused on hair, identity, and personal experience.

Group members: Joi, Yusuma, Slávka, and another Student Academy participant.

An installation for the UIA World Congress Student Academy exhibition, A Society Built for Every Body, presented as part of the larger UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen. Developed during the Royal Danish Academy’s Student Academy, the project explored body diversity and the ways it shapes our experience of architecture. Over ten days, through workshops and lectures led by different mentors, we developed questions and concerns to bring into the UIA Congress. As a group of five, we created an installation titled Hair Vision, focusing on hair, personal experiences of having it or not having it, and the ways it can influence people’s lives and identities. Beyond the project itself, the experience was also a meaningful opportunity to connect with my teammates and with people from around the world. It reminded me that we often have more in common than we realize, and that sometimes we simply need to take the time to listen.

We developed floating braided forms to represent diverse hair types and colours. To make the installation interactive, visitors were invited to leave a hair sample and share a personal story. Originally planned as real-hair braids suspended three metres from the ceiling, the design was adapted to use yarn and fabric with a lower custom ceiling structure due to time and budget constraints.

The table support system was first fabricated in steel in the materials lab to hold the full installation together and provide a stable base for the assembly.

Next, two metal plates were laser-perforated to create openings for the hanging strings and for the containers to be illuminated from beneath the table surface. Four smaller openings were also cut into each plate to allow the supporting metal columns to be mounted.

We then spent several days creating different types of braids for the installation. This part of the process became one of the most therapeutic stages of the project and felt deeply healing, creating a strong sense of care and togetherness within the group.

Each braid was secured at the top and left floating freely at the bottom. Alongside this, we prepared the interactive components by ordering small containers to store the hair shared by visitors and cutting paper labels for them to write their personal stories.

The assembled installation looked almost exactly as we had imagined, with the only missing element being the LED lighting beneath the table. As a final gesture, each group member cut a piece of their own hair and contributed a personal hair story to the installation.

The completed work was then transported to the conference center and installed for exhibition.

This journey became a meaningful experience in exploring both the differences and similarities we share as people. It reinforced the importance of listening, communicating, and engaging with those around us, regardless of appearance or ability. I am very grateful to have been part of this opportunity.