Algae, Human hair

Weaving Water

Weaving Water is an interwoven tapestry of algae and female human hair that aims to reconnect humans to the origin of our evolution, the sea.

Weaving Water uses textile art as an agent to increase awareness about the connections between living systems. Through entangling materials from the underworld (algae) with materials from the top world (female human hair). The artwork presents a new material ecology that can aid humans to feel re-threaded to the natural order. In the wake of resource depletion, there is an opportunity to co-create with and learn from, the intelligence of these abundant bio-materials like algae and human hair. Through bio-fabrication techniques, the project intends to weave lost female craft heritages. Weaving Water aims to push traditional narratives into new speculative formats.

Additional information

Designer Bela Rofe took inspiration from the structure of seaweed farms to build and fabricate Weaving Water. She built a 2.4m by 1.5m timber loom to form the outer frame. The structure is held together by transparent strips of alginate and agar bioplastics cast with female human hair and dried seaweeds, cased in algae yarn. The materials are concoctions of different recipes and experiments that entangle human and nature into a single living entity. She used traditional techniques like manual sewing, knotting, woodwork and wet felting. Alongside digital fabrication techniques such as laser cutting and CNC milling.

Information submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank.

Ingredients