Freedom of Expression Is a Seaweed

Freedom of Expression Is a Seaweed / The series of artist’s books, № 7

Materials: some pieces of seaweed drifted ashore Midfjorden in Norway, white wool thread

August, 2025

Watch the video at my YouTube channel

This work was published by PEN Finland during A Year of Freedom of Expression, see here.

I found this seaweed on the shore of Midfjorden in Norway. The seaweed washed up on the rocks. At home I soaked it in water again, then cut it into equal pieces and sewed it with white threads — like books. When the seaweed book was wet — its pages were soft and you could read the book by hand. When the book dried — its pages shriveled and it became impossible to turn the pages because you can break it. But if you put the seaweed book into water again — its pages will speak again.

So, if we imagine that freedom of expression is seaweed, how would you read this book?