Geometry in Motion

Students from the “ design ” at the University of Navarra are creating the costumes for the performance “Resonancias,” created by designer and researcher Yaiza Pinillos and performed by dancer and choreographer Olga Pericet, a member of the Nation award , and Pastora Andrades, a singer and bassist

“Teaching students the fundamentals of formal, material, and conceptual experimentation in fashion” is one of the educational goals that professors Ananda Pascual, María Villanueva, and Maider Istúriz seek to instill in the fashion workshops at the School of Architecture. These workshops include the performance “Resonancias,” the result of an artistic residency program between the MUN’s Department of Performing Arts at partnership and the School.

Inspired by the “ exhibition : Live and Direct—Color, Perception, and Experience,” Yaiza Pinillos, the founder of project, has guided students through the process of creating various installations and costumes using origami techniques.

In this interview, Professors Pascual, Villanueva, and Istúriz explain what the “ project ” initiative has entailed from the perspective of the teaching and the research.

How does the " research " on draped forms and stage costumes fit into the curriculum of the " subject"?

We spent a month familiarizing ourselves with origami, practicing, and recreating patterns to understand how the paper behaved and achieve high-quality results. Once we got past this phase, we began creating our own patterns and adapting the ones we had learned until we arrived at the final designs.

During this second phase, we integrated our standard methodology from project, combining the students’ own creative proposals with the “ approach ” (Creative Process) from the “ proposal ” methodology by Yaiza Pinillos.

What challenges did you face when designing clothing meant to be worn while moving?

First of all, it was a challenge to work from a technical perspective rather than starting from a more open- research , as we do at class . However, once they understood the purpose of the process, they produced some very interesting results, many of which were featured in the performance.

On the other hand, we faced the challenge of material challenge . We tested different types of paper—such as vegetable-based and photographic paper—with characteristics that would allow them to meet the demands of both the origami technique and the movement and physical requirements of the devices.

Finally, he highlighted the adaptation to the exhibition “ exhibition : ‘En vivo y en directo: color, percepción y experiencia’” ( : “Live and Direct: Color, Perception, and Experience”), which includes the “ project ” (Cruz-Diez’s “Color Installation”), and which had not yet been set up when we developed the “ subject ” (Cruz-Diez’s “Color Installation”). To address this, we recreated a “ conference room ” (Cruz-Diez’s “Color Installation”) that simulated Cruz-Diez’s color installation to verify whether the costumes and devices responded as expected to light and color.

What are the benefits of interdisciplinary " work " in educational projects?

The benefits of this experience are many and varied. First, the focus on a specific assignment and a real- challenge —to which they must provide a functional solution. The second aspect is the connection to the professional world, seeing their work applied in a real-world setting.

Finally, it is worth noting the impact from the university’s perspective, where the interdisciplinary “ work ” broadens the intellectual and cultural horizons of the “ student body.” By stepping outside their individual interests and engaging with concepts originating in other artistic disciplines, the students discover new perspectives and enriching ways of seeing within the art world.

The performance premiered on October 23. What effect does seeing the garments in action have?

For us, it has been an amazing experience, and we are especially happy for the students, who have seen the efforts of an entire semester come to fruition in these final pieces. Seeing the costumes come to life through the movements of dancer Olga Pericet and singer-songwriter Pastora Andrade, within the exact context for which they were created, has been truly wonderful.