Project spotlight: Framing fashion and art in colour

15 Sep 2025

A 2024 exhibition, Minh Ta: Finding Refuge in Fashion at MTG Hawke’s Bay, was more than a retrospective of one of New Zealand’s pioneering designers. It was also an immersive design statement, with Resene colour and finish choices that drew directly from Minh Ta’s story and her era-defining garments, proving that the right backdrop can seamlessly showcase design and narrative in equal measure.

Exhibition and Facilities Manager James Price led the team in translating Minh’s journey and 1980s aesthetic into a gallery experience. “We wanted to reflect both the vibrancy of the decade and the French architectural influences of Vietnam’s colonial history,” he says. “Resene products gave us the flexibility, durability and colour intensity we needed for the installation.”

The vivid hue of Resene Blue Lagoon graces the walls behind Minh Ta’s garments, using Resene Zylone Sheen for its unobtrusive and seamless finish. The arches are painted in Resene Lustacryl in the shade Resene Black.

Well-placed lighting highlights the depth of Resene Blue Lagoon on the gallery walls, while Resene Black on the arches perfectly displays text and imagery.

The palette nods to multiple sources. The electric blues of the extreme ocean crossing Minh’s family endured, the shocking pinks of 80s fashion and cosmetics and the glamour of Benson & Hedges Fashion Awards stage sets.

The gallery walls were finished in Resene Zylone Sheen in Resene Blue Lagoon, grounding the garments against a saturated, energetic backdrop. A dedicated selfie wall bursts with Resene Zylone Sheen in Resene Scrumptious, a vibrant magenta which invited visitors to literally step into the fashion story. And tall arches, referencing French architecture, were painted in Resene Lustacryl in the shade Resene Black for a smooth, hardwearing surface that supports graphics and text.

Geometric metallic structures add interest with outlines of Resene Black, while Resene Scrumptious and Resene Blue Lagoon sing with life alongside the exhibiting garments.

The selfie fashion wall was painted in the bright pink Resene Scrumptious, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in Minh Ta’s exhibition.

These selections not only brightened the space but created strong visual anchors for the exhibition’s 26 garments, accessories, archival material and video content.

Another striking design feature was a series of giant twisting silver and gold structures inspired by stainless steel cars, gold bullion and the Rubik’s Snake puzzle. With 336 custom-trimmed metallic panels, achieving crisp articulation lines was critical.

The solution came down to paint. Rather than complex routed grooves, the structures were painted in Resene Lustacryl before applying metallic vinyl. Cutting the vinyl slightly smaller than each panel revealed a fine line of the Resene Black replicating the puzzle’s segmented geometry.

The choice of Resene Zylone Sheen on the walls offers a seamless finish that doesn’t take away from the exhibition, but enhances it.

James says the Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss finish was ideal. “It gave us the perfect smooth base for the vinyl, excellent adhesion and just the right sheen to catch the light without distraction.”

For the walls and large-scale colour surfaces, the team once again relied on Resene Zylone Sheen. With its low-VOC formulation and unobtrusive finish, it’s a go-to for the museum’s exhibitions. “We always specify Resene Zylone Sheen,” James says. “It balances richness of colour with sensitivity to enclosed spaces and delicate taonga.”

Minh Ta’s elegant and finely finished designs were framed by seamless surfaces and colour choices, showing that the right paint finish can help in telling any designer or artist’s story.

If you’ve got an exhibition coming up, or need more advice on choosing colours, contact your Resene Representative, visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask A Resene Colour Expert free online today.

Project by MTG Hawke’s Bay

Images by David Frost

Designer Minh Ta

Published: 15 Sep 2025