Josefine Beste – SEE DJERBA

Whispers in the Weave

“Whispers of the Weave” is an artwork that explores the intricate relationship between environmental processes and human traditions on the island of Djerba. Rooted in the long-standing custom of washing wool in the sea, this installation utilizes raw and spun wool, water, and salt to create organic sculptures that form naturally over time.

Wool is taken to the salt lakes and the sea, washed, and then exposed to the sun. Over time, the salt crystallizes on the wool, building clusters and forming delicate, bridge-like structures. These sculptures, shaped by the elements, are unique reflections of the materials and the sunlight, echoing the passage of time and the island’s environmental conditions.

This project is both an aesthetic experiment and a metaphor for Djerba’s ongoing struggle with desertification. It is a research-driven exploration of the island’s ubiquitous materials, capturing the beauty of nature’s building power in a spatial installation. Visitors are invited to witness the slow, transformative process of salt crystallization, revealing the hidden beauty within the natural interactions that shape the landscape of Djerba.