Nice Little Palaces was an electrifying week long exhibition about Wellington’s hidden power stations. It featured four distinct collections of photos I had taken over 100km of walking the suburbs of Wellington.

This was my first solo exhibition. I designed and organised every part of the show including branding, brochures, post cards, vinyl displays, digital advertising, and the 36 A2 photos on display.

The buildings featured in this exhibition are known as electricity substations. They power our lives and are a presence in every neighbourhood. Some have operated for a century and many feature art inspired by the communities they serve. Yet, these striking structures are seemingly invisible. This exhibition was about bringing them into the light and celebrating the important role they play in powering Wellington.

Collections

Substations in Colour

Architectural style is only one way substations show their unique character. Colour is another tool used for blending in and standing out. These shots were my favourite of the colourful buildings I stumbled upon during this project.

Monochrome

Sometimes photos just look better in black and white. The starkest substations, some of them surviving nearly a century, stand out best in the grey. Some of my favourite pieces were in this, the largest collection. Removing colour showed the grittiness as well as quirky personality deeply embedded in the buildings.

The Power of Art

Wellington Electricity had a problem with grafitti on their substations. To dissuade tagging, they started funding street artists to paint some vibrant murals. It created a set of beautiful substation artworks designed for and with the communities they serve. You can find these murals from Karori to Kilbirnie, and everywhere in between. No two styles are the same between two suburbs.

High Voltage

Spotting a substation in Wellington is easy once you know what to look for. Every substation is graced with the iconic “High Voltage” sign signalling danger. Whether it is above mural or metal, the warning acts as a beacon for the keen observer.

Exhibition Materials

Postcards

I wanted an accessible way to bring home power stations or share them with loved ones, which is why I designed and produced five power station post cards. The designed included key symbols from Wellington power stations and featured the streets each substation sat on. It was the perfect way to tell someone you care about them and give them a scavenger hunt!

Brochures

Every good exhibition has a quality brochure – and with such an odd topic, I wanted to give context to the project. Within it, I communicated the research I had done around power stations, described the collections and showed off archival photography of the Newtown substation.

The brochure seamlessly integrated the photography and colour palette of the exhibition. It captured some of the curiosity of this project to complement the collections on display.

Digital Advertising

To promote Nice Little Palaces, I designed a suite of motion graphics and static advertising for social platforms. These videos and photos built awareness about the exhibition for art lovers across Wellington. The videos and photography reached over 12,000 Wellingtonians, and attracted over 500 people to learn more about the exhibition.

Branding

I designed the logo system and colours for use across all materials. I wanted the designs to feel electric and structured, similar to the subjects of the exhibition. BN Bergen St was the display typeface of choice because of its 1920s geometric feeling. The boxy feel and use of symbols like the lightning bolt gives a coherence and harmony across digital, print and signage.