In the Kombu Ahtola, kelp is used as a membrane to cover a rattan structure. Single pieces of seaweed are applied to connect each of the rattan ribs. The drying seaweed takes on a convex shape and there-by deforms, tightens, and stabilises the entire structure. An Ahtola is the mythical underwater palace of the Finnish sea goddesses. Lohmann: ‘Kelp is an ecosystem-builder that supports underwater organisms both big and small and supplies us with our oxygen. It can also give shelter to the deities of the ocean – or is it the deity itself?’

Julia Lohmann’s kombu ahtola at the wolrd as we don’t know it exhibition

The Baltic Sea Lab ExP team (Julia Lohmann & the Department of Seaweed) has contributed their beautiful seaweed sculture Kombu Ahtola to exhibition The World As We Don’t Know It at the Droog Design space, Netherlands. 🌊🌿

The exhibition curated by Renny Ramakers features 20 international artist presenting their visions on the climate crisis.

Find out more about the exhibition here.