This large handwoven fabric was created from luminaria, a type of algae also referred to as kelp. Violaine Buet designed the piece and worked on the preparation of the kelp that she cut, treated and coloured with natural dyes. The final fabric piece was handwoven by David de Roscoat. The piece was presented to the Fondation Bettencourt as a contender for their annual prize in the dialogue category.
Height 80 cm
Width 50 cm
© Muriel Le Chene
© Violaine Buet
© Bertrand Drouhard
© Myrjam Bleeker
Violaine Buet
- Seaweed worker
- Auray, France
- Master Artisan
Contact
French, English
Address:
12 Rue Redien, 56400 Auray, France
12 Rue Redien, 56400 Auray, France
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+33 751603365
+33 751603365
© Maarten Huisman
From seaweed to fabric
- • Violaine has a special connection to her raw material
- • Seaweed allows her to explore many creative avenues
- • She defines herself as a sustainable innovator
Violaine weaves the sea and its colours. Living in Bretagne, where tides mark the time, she picks seaweed as soon as the tide goes out, leaving them scattered accross the sand and in little rock pools. It’s a way the material returns to its origins. It’s a living thing, that inspires her to ask herself many questions. It opens her heart. Creating with seaweed allows her to merge the animal and plant kingdoms. Seven years spent in India influenced Violaine's textile techniques. She left with a hunger to use her acquired skills in an imaginative and sustainable way. It took her a long time to understand how. Working with seaweed brings her great joy, she likes to help the material naturally transform into different shapes by using her hands in a harmonious manner.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: © Pierre-Yves Dinasquetb
Kelp wall piece
Photo: © Laurent Desmaret
Seaweed fabric
This sample of fabric, handwoven from luminaria, mixes handwoven seaweed with loose hanging fringes; a dialogue between nature and manufacturer. Violaine Buet’s encounter with designers and craftsmen such as weavers are a central inspiration to her craft, working on the development of her materials and their designs, as she discovers new people and ideas.
Height 180 cm
Width 50 cm
Photo: © Laurent Desmaret
Seaweed fabric
This handwoven sample of fabric mixes handwoven seaweed with loose hanging fringes; a dialogue between nature and manufacturer. This fabric sample was made from luminaria, more commonly known as kelp.
Height 180 cm
Width 50 cm
Photo: © Violaine Buet
Kelp sculpture
This gilt sculptural piece was created from luminaria, or more commonly known as kelp. Once treated, the kelp was carefully covered in gold leaf. This piece blends a rich range of techniques and is part of a constant exploration of the aesthetics and technical challenges of algae within design and craftsmanship.
Height 10 cm
Width 10 cm
Photo: © Violaine Buet
Sea belt
Sea belt was handwoven from luminaria, commonly known as kelp. The design of the seaweed belt draws its inspiration from the Sámi culture, and has been worn by the major of Hammerfest during public functions. The belt was created in collaboration with Edel Maria Brynjulfsen.
Height 60 cm
Width 160 cm
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