WOMEN WATCH

The W2W Awards celebrate the achievements of Diocesan alumnae under the age of 36. The 2023 winners are Melany Sun-Min Park (2004) and Natasha Wright (2005) who were honoured at a full school assembly in the Diocesan Performing Arts Centre on Thursday 23 March.

Natasha Wright

Natasha Wright is a New York-based artist who attended Dio between 2001 and 2005. During her final school years, she received a Scholars’ Award, was on the Visual Arts and Ball Committees and was debating captain.

“I loved my time at Dio and feel so lucky to have been a student there,” she says. “Dio gave me so many opportunities outside of daily classes – from classics trips to Italy, Shakespeare festivals, rowing camps and debating – and the belief that anything is possible.”

Natasha took as many art classes as she could, including painting, printmaking, design and art history. She recalls the rule-breaking efforts she and her friends went to in order to spend more time doing art.

“The art department was usually open after school until 5pm when security guards searched the building, locked all doors and set the alarms. It dawned on us how much work we could get through if we stayed in the building for a further five hours. At 4:50pm we’d assume our hiding places in cupboards or the school dark room. We’d then work late into the night.”

On leaving school, Natasha studied design and management at Parsons, The New School in New York and subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Design from Massey University Wellington in 2010.

She did the Visual Arts Foundation course at Central St Martins, London, and in 2017 obtained her master’s in fine arts from the New York Studio School, winning the prestigious LCU Award, a New York Studio School scholarship, and the Jane Chase Carroll Merit Award.

Since graduating, Natasha has worked as a full-time artist, exhibiting across the US, New Zealand and Australia in multiple group and solo shows. Her paintings depict the representation of women throughout history. Some include references to the three graces, ancient fertility goddesses and contemporary culture.

“My work explores the significance of the female body as an icon,” she says. “My practice probes the politics of the representation of the female form. Gender and sexuality, vulnerability and power, seduction and aggression; these dualities motivate the dynamics of my work. The women I paint balance the grotesque and beautiful. The paintings are rooted in the body but take on abstract forms and shapes.”

Drawing is a key part of Natasha’s practice and where 99% of her ideas start. Her works often include materials such as oil, glass, black magnum and sand, and her favourite palette combines rich golds, earth tones and a variety of blacks.

“I believe paintings have the power to change the way we see the world, and to take you somewhere else. I want to create paintings that are filled with feeling. The beauty of painting is you never really know whose life you’re going to inspire or impact.”

While she’s grateful to be pursuing her passion, Natasha says there’s nothing glamorous about being an artist – she’s running a small business with taxes, bookkeeping and shipping issues. And with her creative output, consistency is essential for success.

“The art world can be a tricky place to navigate. I’ve learned it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And half the battle is just showing up. I work every day, not just when I’m inspired or feel like it.

When I take the pressure off making a masterpiece and I’m in a good working routine, something always comes out of it.

“I’d like to thank Shelley Ryde for always encouraging and inspiring me and my wonderful parents for their belief and commitment to my work.”

When she’s not painting, Natasha does some voluntary work at the Exceptional Artists Foundation in New York and has collaborated with Art Start on a range of hand-painted jeans with a charitable purpose. She loves wandering around the Lower East Side and Tribeca looking at art galleries or exploring new restaurants and bars.

DR MELANY SUN-MIN PARK

Melany is an architectural historian, and a design and workplace strategist who attended Dio from 1999 to 2004, starting in Year 8, after her family moved to New Zealand from South Korea. In her final year, she was Deputy Head Prefect, leader of the Chamber Orchestra, sang in the Senior Choir and played in the Concert Band and Sinfonia.

She received a full scholarship for academic excellence, all-round ability and leadership potential to the University of Auckland, where she did a Bachelor of Architectural Studies. In 2007, she was named a Senior Scholar (the top 1% of the graduating class) and won the New Zealand Institute of Architects Prize for Design.

“Dio has shaped and defined who I have become today, and I am truly grateful,” she says. “From Mrs Shelley Ryde’s painting and art classes to Mr David Gordon’s music lessons and orchestras, the opportunities to try and challenge myself in any creative pursuit led me to my eventual dream of becoming an architect.”

Melany worked at New Zealand architectural firm Stephenson & Turner before earning master’s degrees in art business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in Singapore, architecture at the National University of Singapore, and the history and philosophy of design.

Realising she could make more impact through deep research and teaching design, she pursued a PhD in architecture at Harvard University. Her dissertation on the architecture, industrial expertise and scientific knowledge in post-war Korea has been lauded for its significant contribution to the field of Korean history and modern architectural history.

Challenging herself beyond what’s comfortable, continuing to learn, and staying curious are what drives Melany.

“My eight years at Harvard studying and teaching as a doctoral fellow made it clear that the students who make it to Harvard are driven by one common denominator – curiosity. It’s far less about smarts, but the determination to always ask questions.”

With a PhD under her belt, Melany joined Gensler, the world’s largest architectural firm. In her role as a design strategist, she investigated how improving the design of corporate workspaces could make employees feel happier, and more valued and productive. She also advised multinational corporations and tertiary institutions on their post-COVID returnto-office strategies.

Melany is a committee member of the Trustees Reservation, one of the world’s oldest land conservation non-profits and the largest charity in Massachusetts. She urges others to think about what we can contribute to society at large.

“My time at Dio led me to think broadly about our motto, Ut Serviamus, and how service can and should extend beyond our immediate circles,” she says.

In March 2023, she accepted the role of

Senior Product Manager at Outer Labs, a tech company that builds software to help brands design and manage their real estate portfolios.

“Every career or life transition for me has been about making intentional choices and changes. While change can’t always be controlled or predicted, I’ve always lived by the rule my father taught me: opportunities only come to those who are prepared. If you’re always ready and prepare yourself to the best of your abilities, the next challenge or change you’re looking for will come to you and you will be ready for it.”

Melany married Travis Hughes at the MIT Chapel in 2019. They now have a baby daughter, Isla, and live in Boston.