The Submerged Sanctuary
A collaborative project between Kenji Eu, Gina Teichroew and myself.
We started this project with enthusiasm, a whole lot of textile waste, and a desire to make something inflatable! The result was a underwater themed space filled with alien coral like plants and sooo many things to look at and touch.
Bass Coast Festival 2023, Merritt, BC, Canada
Photo by @justjash
The KiCK OFF
The Submerged Sanctuary was initially pitched to be an Art Installation at Bass Coast Festival 2023 in Meritt, BC, Canada. As a team involving sewists, designers and artists, we knew we wanted to make some kind of inflatable based art piece. We decided to arrange a collection of inflatable sculptures in a way that created an enclosed and protected space - a sanctuary. It was a space where onlookers could come, temporarily escape the chaos of the festival and immerse themselves in the whimsy of our ocean themed space.
Bass Coast Festival 2023, Merritt, BC, Canada
Design and Planning
Our team was dedicated to designing an installation optimized for transport, resilience to the elements, and of course raver-resistant (able to survive festival goers). We carefully planned out the initial design in CAD.
CAD model of early design concept
The design featured three main curved planter boxes, serving as sturdy bases for inflatable sculptures while safeguarding internal electronics. Constructed from CNC plywood, these planters supported an overhead canopy of polypropylene pipes, which would be used to accommodate and suspend additional lights and decor. A custom ducting system and 3D-printed inlets were devised to inflate each sculpture, doubling as anchor points and internal lighting sources.
The entire structure, including planters and decor, was designed for easy disassembly and transportation.
Exploded view showing disassembly of the installation
FABRICATION
Fabrication involved a diverse array of techniques such as CNC routing, 3D printing, woodworking, electrical work, and sewing. We were extremely luck to have the support of The Egg - who provided the space for us to build our installation.
Emphasizing sustainability, all textile components were crafted from upcycled materials. The inflatable sculptures were constructed from repurposed kitesurfing kites donated by members of the Vancouver kite surfing community.
Testing the set up of inflatable sculptures in the planters.
Particular attention to detail was placed upon the textile decor elements. Each sculpture featured unique coral-like embellishments made from artfully manipulated fabric scraps. Various fabrics were also intricately cut and sewn together to form meters of vibrant and luxurious mock seaweed.
The Finished Product
Bass Coast Festival 2023, Merritt, BC, Canada
The end result was a truly distinctive installation, providing a retreat for relaxation and stimulation for the eyes. A sea floor adorned with cushions offered festival-goers a comfortable space to immerse themselves in the details of the Sanctuary.
Bass Coast Festival 2023, Merritt, BC, Canada
Photo by @403ABC
After debuting at Bass Coast, The Submerged Sanctuary returned to Merritt two weeks later and was set up for Burn In the Forest - the Greater Vancouver Regional Burning Man. After summer festivities subsided and the fall weather rolled in, the Sanctuary was set up in downtown Vancouver for Lumiere Festival. To cope with the Vancouver fall rain, the installation was set up inside a giant inflatable igloo - inflatables inside inflatables!
The Submerged Sanctuary at Lumiere Festival in Vancouver, Canada, 2023.
Finally, to round off a great year, the Submerged Sanctuary was set up inside the MakerLabs building as part of the 2023 Eastside Culture Crawl.
Friends visiting MakerLabs during the Eastside Culture Crawl and hanging out inside the Sanctuary.
Successfully installed at four different events throughout 2023, the Sanctuary provided the public with a resting spot and inspiration at various events throughout the year. It was such a joy to design, build and create such a whimsical wonderful piece to share and interact with the public.
Bass Coast Festival 2023, Merritt, BC, Canada