WOVEN INSTALLATION ~ TWENTYONETONNES
Suspended between earth and air, light and fiber, tradition and contemporary design, this lighting and basket installation explores the quiet power of craftsmanship. Each basket, hand woven from elephant grass in Ghana, carries within it generations of knowledge, rhythm, and memory. When illuminated from within and arranged in sculptural clusters, these vessels transcend their utilitarian origins and become luminous forms—objects that hold not only light, but story.
woven installation by twentyonetonnes studio, photography by maddy pease and carly hildebrant
In a world saturated with disposable goods and artificial light, the installation offers something different: warmth, texture, authenticity. It slows the viewer down. It encourages a closer look. And in the quiet glow of woven elephant grass, one encounters not only light, but lineage—threads of culture and care woven into every luminous form.
baskets by twentyonetonnes studio, photography by maddy pease and carly hildebrant
The baskets used in this installation are hand woven by skilled artisans in northern Ghana, where weaving is both cultural expression and economic lifeline. Techniques are passed down through families, often from mother to daughter, father to son. The rhythm of weaving is meditative: strands are soaked, twisted, folded, and stitched into spiraling forms. Each basket can take days to complete, depending on scale and complexity. No two are identical. The slight asymmetries and variations are not imperfections; they are signatures of the human hand.
By sourcing these baskets through ethical and sustainable practices, the installation becomes more than an aesthetic gesture. It becomes part of a larger ecosystem of responsible design. Ethical sourcing ensures that artisans are paid fairly, work in safe conditions, and retain ownership of their traditional knowledge. Sustainable harvesting practices protect the grasslands from depletion, allowing elephant grass to regenerate naturally. This approach respects both people and land, recognizing that beauty and responsibility are not opposing values but interconnected ones.
woven display by twentyonetonnes studio, photography by maddy pease and carly hildebrant