For Design’s Sake in a visual installation project that is entirely orchestrated by myself without a specific story or theatre production in mind. By starting with the scenography first I want to challenge the structures of theatre institutions and the traditions of a normal design process.

As a theatre designer my connection to storytelling is not far away. My goal for an installation design is not just the visual appeal and aesthetic, but also the entire experience an audience has with sound, lights and feel.

For Design’s Sake was made possible with a Project Grant from the Calgary Arts Development.

Thanks to an in-house residency from Vertigo Theatre and a collaboration with Verb Theatre I was able to organize a 5-day workshop with a variety of Calgary artists. These artists were invited into the space to see and play in the set installation that I designed. They each got 4 days to create an artistic performance or experience that was inspired by the installation.

Artists participating in this experiment lab included: Ajay Badoni, Joel Braun, Anton DeGroot, Kris Demeanor, Jamie Dunsdon, Chris Hunt, Michaela Jeffery, Karen Johnson-Diamond, Heidi MacDonald, Sylvie Moquin, Tim Nguyen, Rebbekah Ogden, Rufi Oswaldo, and Javier Vilalta.

Concept and Design by Hanne Loosen
Directorial support by Jamie Dundson
Light Design support by Ajay Badoni

Photos by Tim Nuyen
Featured artists: Chris Hunt, Sylvie Moquin, Heidi MacDonald, Kris Demeanor and Hanne Loosen