Berit Ida’s work reveals a unique approach to the traditional basket weaver material willow. She understands the willow as a living material that speaks to her. A concrete idea is the starting point for a very free dialogue with the archaic and flexible natural material. This often results in shapes that are inspired by nature, e. g. by softly falling hair, a snail or a cornucopia. The largest installation to date was a 37 m long willow wave.
Berit Ida always creates her installations on site, if possible, in order to relate to the environment. Just as in your painting, where a picture is created by looking at the motif, the willow installations grow into the space and allow inspiration to take shape. When it comes to colouring, it draws on the natural diversity of the various willow species. From red willow (salix purpurea), black (salix daphnoides) or freshly peeled white glowing willow (salix americana) to green (salix viminalis) and yellowish (salix alba vitellina) willow: like from the palette of colours, this extraordinarily versatile artist uses the different willow varieties.
Especially the more filigree works show her virtuoso handling of the willow. The willow costumes to the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades, embodying the seven nymphs in the constellation of Taurus, are an example of this. In the individual costumes, which symbolize the individual characters from Greek mythology, copper, shells and human hair as well as the willow were woven into a perfect whole. Maybe the love for weaving also comes from Berit Ida’s almost calf-length hair…
Berit Ida’s willow works are mostly commissioned or project-related and are suitable for exhibitions on public grounds as well as for private clients.
Contact the artist if you have a project idea.
Guest articles Martin Pierags