When the borders closed at the start of the global pandemic, artist Ari Bayuaji found himself stranded on the island of Bali for an extended period. Observing the economic impact of the halt in tourism and the environmental pollution that was destroying the beaches, he began a series of works aimed at recovering plastic fishing nets found on the shores and turning them into textile art, hand in hand with the local community. This is how the Weaving the Ocean project initiated by artist Ari Bayuaji came about in 2020. For his exhibition at the Biosphère, the artist invites us into his studio. Through this immersive installation, which reproduces his working space in Bali, Ari Bayuaji tells us the different stories at the heart of Weaving the Ocean: the reclamation of salvaged fishing nets, the use of traditional weaving techniques, the creation of a community along the way... Biography Born in Indonesia, Ari Bayuaji moved to Canada in 2005 and studied Fine Arts at Concordia University (2005-2010). The artist, who divides his time between Montréal and Bali, is best known for his installations, which incorporate found objects he collects and various cultural traditions. Ari Bayuaji has participated in numerous artist-in-residency programs and international group exhibitions. His works are part of several public (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Pointe-à-Callière) and private collections. Ari Bayuaji’s work has also been the subject of major solo exhibitions, most recently in Washington (USA), Yogyakarta (Indonesia) and at the Cheongju Craft Biennale (South Korea). The artist is represented by Pierre-François Ouellette Gallery, Montréal.