Seaweed stories
The two illustrations you see in this collective Môr exhibition in Pontio are original screenprints I made for my MA final major project in August 2023, a project all about seaweed.
I spend a lot of time in the ocean swimming and surfing, this project was driven by a desire to connect with the ‘intertidal zone’ at a deeper level; finding a more reciprocal relationship with the coastline which is less based on my need for outdoor recreation and considering how to be less human centric in our day to day experiences.
These prints are taken from a small book I wrote called ‘Seaweed Stories’. It’s quite expensive to print neon colours digitally, and so I thought I may as well explore using this vibrant colour through screen printing.
Given that my personal practice is founded on a feeling of interconnection with the outdoors, the materials I used also echoed this notion. The ocean (and water protection in general) is upmost importance to me, therefore the screen printing inks I used were considered for their environmental impact. Hunt the Moon create screen printing inks with high environmental standards. The cartridge paper is 100% recycled 190gsm from a company called Eco Craft.
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Mother of the Sea.
Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker – a British phycologist (algae scientist), lecturer and botanist who is widely known in Japan as the Mother of The Sea. Her research helped establish commercial cultivation practices of a type of laver seaweed used in Sushi. There is even a Mother of The Sea day, which is celebrated in her honour
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Nori.
The paper thin sheets wrapped around sushi are made from Nori which is a kind of Laver. It used to be quite hard to grow in Japan, and was typically nicknamed ‘lucky’ by local people before commercial cultivation began.
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Book release
If you would like to hear more about this book when I have published it then please do get in touch hey@ballawaves.com
COLLABORATORS
I feel very fortunate to have worked with some incredible seaweed experts and collectives during this project. Do check out their websites for workshops all about the algae world!
Gwymona
Mid Wales
Kirsti was born and lives in the Dyfi valley, Mid-Wales. Growing up she always felt suspended between her upbringing within an alternative scientific community and the rooted Welsh landscape and language. Witnessing first hand the sometimes destructive ignorance of the environmental movement, Kirsti has dedicated her working life to projects which are personal, culturally respectful and that empower others. Through seaweed and her project ‘Gwymona’ she has found a way of connecting to a wide range of people, as well as herself, and intends to work on it for many years to come.
The Seaweed Institute
Penryn
Through workshops in the community Kerry and Ruth explore all things algae, teaching how to carefully harvest and eat it, whilst collecting people’s stories and celebrating its beauty and intelligence. Their backgrounds in both scientific and design-led seaweed research provide an amazing knowledge base for an inspiring learning experience.