Experience The Installation - Metamorphosis

Visit Canberra Centre to experience the installation - Metamorphosis. Inspired by The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, experience a whimsical installation where iridescent flowers bloom from a wardrobe transmitting and reflecting colour. 

Metamorphosis is an immersive art installation that invites you to witness and be part of the ongoing transformation of the Canberra Centre. Chapter one showcases a large wardrobe spilling vibrant flowers, symbolizing the growth and change taking place as Canberra Centre undergoes its own physical transformation. This transformation will soon unveil a new Australian Designer Precinct, celebrating the best in local fashion find out more HERE.

The installation itself evolves in stages, with each chapter mirroring the changes happening within the Centre. As the space shifts, so does the artwork—bringing new flowers, butterflies, and interactive components to life. Metamorphosis blends art, local design, and technology to create a dynamic environment where change is celebrated, and you play an active role in its development. 

As you explore the installation, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the artwork and contribute to its evolution. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops, where you can create your own flowers and butterflies, adding your personal touch to the ongoing transformation of Metamorphosis. 

Visit regularly to experience the installation’s growth and celebrate the creative journey unfolding at Canberra Centre. 

About the Artist

Nick Athanasiou, Director and Creative Director, Skunk Control

"The colours are often not due to pigments, but rather structural colour, where nanoscale structures on the wings reflect specific wavelengths of light, creating the vibrant hues."

In Collaboration with Canberra Centre 

To coincide with the changes going in centre, I wanted the work to reflect that change. It’s a message to the guests, to say “hey, you’ve been with us for a while…but a change is coming” which is what the wardrobe represents. The process has already begun, in the form of the flowers spilling out of the wardrobe and out onto the glass floor. As further changes are made, and the evolution of the Centre begins, the artwork will begin to evolve and change. 

The Space

This section of the Centre has so much light. The glass panels on the roof, the floor, the windows at each end, even the Café in its centre. It feels like a beautiful green house. So those aspects of nature, the flowers, and some more elements yet to come we’re bringing the nature is inside.  With the development underway and hoarding being installed.  we wanted to make sure the space was still alive.  

The Guest Experience 

We want the guests to feel part of the Metamorphosis of the Centre. They're coming on the journey with us. They're going to notice the small changes; they can come back and visit the space and see what's new. They are an essential part of the evolution of the Centre, as it is for them. 

STEM Integration

Metamorphosis isn’t just an artistic piece; we’ve incorporated STEM elements into various aspects. The material the flowers are made from were designed to replicate butterfly wings. Butterfly wings appear colourful, but it isn’t pigment. It’s the nanoscale structures on the wings that reflect and transmit light. The light directed at the flowers, will change the colour depending on where you stand. Future chapters of Metamorphosis will incorporate more STEM design elements.  

We are excited to offer guests the experience of making their own piece of Metamorphosis in Centre with the outreach programs.  

What is the tagline for Metamorphosis?  

“Life finds a way”