Ida Isak Westerberg

Ida Isak Westerberg’s weaving practice is an exploratory one that sees them engaging in both individual and collective processes. The work Sompasenvuoma 1 & 2 was co-created with a Tornedalen mire, and revolves around making, a place, and diverse identities. The work consists of two weaves that Ida Isak Westerberg has made in interaction with Sompasenvuoma (“mire of the swamp”), which is located in the forest in Tornedalen where their grandfather worked all his life. A closer look at Sompasenvuoma 1 reveals the shape of the mire, the little trees, and the open space. It is the shape of this mire that has provided the weaves with their colouration and patterns. The weaves were buried in the mire for a month to “spend time” with the plants–plants that include cloudberry, bog bilberry, and sprigs of wild rosemary and heather. To Westberg, this place is rife with history and mythology, but where they also feel a sense of belonging and identity. Their chosen method is an attempt to seek cooperation with nature, rather than exploiting it. These weaves are a continuation of Galleri Syster’s project SamArtBete, in which Westerberg worked with artist Anna Classon on an investigation of the mirelands as a place, an idea, and their similarities with queer spaces.

Ida Isak Westerberg’s practice is based on Norrbotten and queer perspectives and seeks to explore various aspects of belonging by means of a union of weaving, learning, and collaborative creation. Westerberg was trained in weaving and artistic embroidery at Friends of Handicraft in Stockholm and has been living and working in Älvsbyn in Norrbotten since the fall of 2018.