Colorise Whakairinga Toi by Nargiza Usmanova is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Toi me te Whakaaturanga Toi Competition Category.
HiriwaToi· 2026
Colorise Whakairinga Toi
Client: Erin Mills Town Centre
A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Toi Category
- 27,503
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #180690
The Design
About Colorise Whakairinga Toi
He whakairinga toi a Colorise i hangaia mō te puna wai o tētahi pokapū hokohoko. Tekau mā rua ngā pou plexiglass pūataata, he rerekē ō rātou teitei me ō rātou tae, e hanga ana i tētahi manawataki whakairo kotahi. I hangaia ngā pou mā te whakapiri i ngā papa plexiglass kua oti kē te tapahi ki te whakapiri acrylic kia mā ai ngā tapa, kāore he tohu kāpia e kitea ana. Kei runga ia pou i tētahi tūāpapa raima kua whakanohoia ki roto i te wai pāpaku. Ka puta te mārama o te rā me te wai kōrikoriko i ngā mata tae, ā, ka hanga i ngā whakaata hurihuri. Ka wheako ngā manuhiri i ngā tae rerekē mā te hīkoi noa huri noa i te puna wai.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Hiriwa
Ko Colorise Whakairinga Toi te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Colorise Whakairinga Toi he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Colorise Whakairinga Toi he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Colorise is an artistic installation designed as a colourful accent composition for the mall’s fountain. Twelve transparent plexiglass posts of varied heights and hues create a unified yet dynamic sculptural rhythm. Its distinction lies in the controlled interaction of light, water, and translucency, generating evolving optical effects. The work’s precision, material clarity, and spatial harmony distinguish it as an immersive, technically considered intervention.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 5000 mm x Depth 3500 mm x Height 2500 mm
- Tags
- Art installation, Visual arts, Plexiglass, Urban art, Reflections
- Production Technology
- Preparation began off site: the most technically demanding stage was assembling the posts themselves, carefully bonding pre cut plexiglass panels to achieve durable, clean edges without visible glue marks. Each post was thoughtfully positioned to preserve balance and flow.
The project statistics:
8 Plexiglass sheets, 8x4 ft
24 Concrete slabs
48 Bolts + nuts
96 Washers
Сolor transparent/translucent film and acrylic cement - Design Challenge
- The installation was completed during a public holiday, allowing the team to work in a quiet, empty mall. Preparation began off-site with custom concrete bases, carefully painted and drilled to support each acrylic post. The most technically demanding stage was assembling the posts themselves, carefully bonding pre cut plexiglass panels to achieve durable, clean edges without visible glue marks. On site, the elements were placed and aligned inside the shallow fountain using protective footwear. Each post was thoughtfully positioned to preserve balance and flow, resulting in a refined presentation that naturally complements the surrounding architecture.
- Research
- The project is based on qualitative design research aimed at understanding how light, colour, and spatial rhythm influence public perception. Methods included site observation, material testing, and daylight studies. Data was gathered through visual analysis and small scale prototypes. Public interaction at the fountain served as an informal participant study. Results showed that transparent colour elements heighten engagement and slow visitor movement. Insights demonstrated how simple optical shifts can foster connection in shared spaces, informing future public environment design with accessibility in mind.
- Inspiration
- Colorise is inspired by the study of diversity, individuality, and collective harmony. Each acrylic post symbolizes a distinct presence, informed by research into colour perception and spatial interaction. The shifting reflections produced by daylight and water guided the project’s technical development, shaping a work that translates human interconnectedness into a precise, light responsive installation.
- Project Duration
- The project started in February 2025 in Toronto and finished in May 2025, and was exhibited at Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga from the end of May 2025 until July 2025.
- Operation Flow
- Visitors experience Colorise simply by moving around the fountain. As daylight shifts, the transparent posts catch and scatter colour, creating new reflections from every angle. The installation does not require activation; its transformation occurs naturally through changes in light and water movement. This constant variation invites viewers to slow down, observe, and engage with an environment that subtly evolves throughout the day.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Nargiza Usmanova, 2025.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Colorise, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Colorise, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Colorise, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Colorise, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Maxim Zinchuk, Colorise, 2025.
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