Laura Pels Ferra

Tangle takes its name from the common name for several species of kelp found along Scottish shores and from the intricate connections between seaweed, ecology, history and place.

Presented in Gallery 495, a restored red phone box beside Cellardyke Harbour, the exhibition continues the gallery’s celebration of local landscape, community, and environmental ideas.

These drawings celebrate the beauty, complexity, and variety of seaweeds found around the coast of Scotland, shaped by careful observation of their forms and structures.

The exhibition also acknowledges a quieter history. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, collecting and pressing seaweed became a popular pastime for women. At a time when women had limited access to scientific institutions and education, many gathered specimens from beaches and rock pools, arranging them into albums and artworks. Although their work was often regarded as a decorative accomplishment, it demanded patience, skill, and close observation of the natural world.

The drawings in Tangle continue this tradition of observation and engagement with the natural world. Inspired by seaweeds found around Scottish coasts, they explore their forms, patterns, and complexity through drawing.

Tangle invites a closer look at a group of organisms that are often overlooked. Seaweeds support marine life, absorb carbon, and help sustain healthy coastal ecosystems. Increasingly, they are recognised as potential allies in supporting efforts to address some of the greatest challenges of our time, from climate change and biodiversity loss to sustainable food production. They are both ordinary and extraordinary: a constant presence along our coastline and a reminder of our entanglement with the sea.