How can exhibition design be more sustainable?
Build less, choose materials with their end in mind, and let the existing gallery do part of the work. The most useful questions are what actually needs to be made and what happens to each element when the show closes.
Let the gallery do some of the work
Paint can change how a room reads. On Have A Seat, the walls were painted to match the gallery floor, which took them out as a focal point and shifted attention to the objects.
Choose materials with their end in mind
For Carla Fernández: Casa de Mode, graphics were produced with silks, concrete, canvas, wood and paint, with the goal of minimizing materials that end up in a landfill. The materiality of each gallery also informed the signage, so the graphics belonged to each space rather than being added on top.
Questions worth asking early
What can be reused or repurposed after the show? What can be painted instead of printed or built? Which elements will a fabricator be able to return, recycle or store? Asking these during design is far easier than solving them at closing.