Weaving the Ocean: In Ari Bayuaji’s Studio

Weaving the Ocean is a project initiated by the artist Ari Bayuaji in 2020 in Bali when borders closed as a result of COVID-19. Observing the economic impact of the halt of tourism as well as the environmental pollution destroying beaches there, he set himself the task of recovering plastic cordages found on the shorelines and in the mangrove forests of Bali in order to turn them into textile art, in collaboration with the local community. With this project, the artist is tackling urgent environmental and social issues: pollution of the oceans and destruction of marine resources; the natural beauty of the island and its attractiveness for tourists. Inspired by the Balinese philosophy that seeks a balance of energies, the approach adopted by Ari Bayuaji endeavors to transform “negative” into “positive.”

For his exhibit at the Biosphère, the artist, who divides his time between Bali and Montréal, invites us into a reproduction of his Balinese workspace. A true foray in his world, one that features the materials and objects that surround him: colorful ropes, evocative tapestries, wooden sculptures, Balinese furniture, statuettes, salvaged materials... Ari Bayuaji recounts the creation of a vibrant and active community around this project, the use of traditional weaving techniques, the recovery of those cordages – and all of it in the common goal of preserving the environment and turning waste into works of art.

Weaving the Ocean is thus the result of the effort and ingenuity of a community, as well as a tribute to the rich textile traditions of Indonesia and the central role played by the sea in the culture of that archipelago. 
_{The Weaving the Ocean project was developed with support from the Canada Council's Explore and Create program.}
November 25, 2023, to September 8, 2024

Zer0. The arts at the heart of ecological transformation

Presented in the framework of a huge research project, the exhibition Zer0 brings together ten artists from different disciplines. The artists were invited to find inspiration in the results of a study on the transition towards zero waste led by Polytechnique Montréal and Équiterre, and their challenge was to transform the scientific data into works of art in order to raising citizens’ awareness of environmentally responsible changes.

With this initiative, the curators for the exhibit, professors Virginie Francoeur and Sophie Bernard, sought above all to demonstrate that art can play a role that fosters eco-responsible behavior. The public is thus invited to participate actively by responding to a survey that will measure the impact of the arts on their own behavior. The Biosphère is the ideal spot for this discussion among scientists, artists and citizens to take shape!

Artists: Martin Beauregard, Jean Désy, Marie-Chloé Duval, Virginie Francoeur, Jason Gillingham, Annie Groovie, Théâtre I.N.K., Rodney Saint-Éloi, Studio Ascètes and Bernard Voyer.
Curators: Virginie Francoeur and Sophie Bernard, professors at Polytechnique Montréal

_{This exhibition was made possible thanks to the contribution of Polytechnique Montréal, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Circular Economy Research Network, the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Équiterre, the Fondation et Alumni de Polytechnique Montréal, the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable, Mirari, Koze Productions and Kashiba Studio.}
November 25, 2023, to April 7, 2024

Family Saturday

This new activity is intended for young people aged 6 to 12 and their families, every first Saturday of the month until April. Participants have the possibility of discovering exhibit themes from a different angle, and to meet artists, scientists and citizens committed to the environment.

• On December 2, Maya Cousineau Mollen will be reading her Christmas tale, Le Noël des animaux de la forêt (The Christmas of the Forest Animals).
• On January 6: discover the exhibition Riopelle, a Bird Wild and Free and create a collage using the artist’s techniques and the birds that surround us.
• On February 3, meet the team of scientists behind the film As the Gull Flies.
• On March 2, do it yourself with salvaged materials in the company of artist Ari Bayuaji inspired by his exhibit Weaving the Ocean: In Ari Bayuaji’s Studio.

To learn more visit the Espace pour la vie website.

Digital press kit consisting of:

• The biography of Ari Bayuaji
• The information sheet including the detailed presentation of the project
• The visuals

Espace pour la vie is made up of the Biodôme, the Biosphère, the Insectarium, the Jardin botanique and the Planétarium. These five prestigious City of Montréal institutions form Canada’s largest natural-science museum complex. Together, they are launching a daring and creative urban movement, encouraging all of us to rethink the connection between humankind and nature and to cultivate a new way of living.