Weaving the Ocean began with the idea of replacing vanishing natural materials with new, commonly available ‘natural’ materials. Ari Bayuaji discovered an abundance of plastic ropes tangled in the roots of trees on the coast of Bali. These ropes, appearing as an organic part of the trees, inspired him to repurpose them as weaving material.
In early 2020, during the pandemic, Bayuaji recruited two local assistants to help unravel and clean the harvested plastic ropes, turning them into fine, colourful threads. He then wove the threads into abstract artworks at a small traditional Balinese weaving workshop that was already economically vulnerable before the pandemic. The project has since expanded to include over 15 collaborators, not only supporting those affected by the pandemic but also educating people in Bali and beyond about environmental sustainability.
