Dress Immersed in Dead Sea Emerges as Sparkling Salt-Encrusted Masterpiece

Israeli artist Sigalit Landau deeply cherishes the Dead Sea, almost in a mystical way. She grew up in Jerusalem, where she could see its famous northern shores from her childhood home on a hill. Her family often visited the Dead Sea on weekends, exposing her to its surreal, mineral-rich environment from a young age. This deep connection to the ancient landscape has profoundly influenced Landau’s artistry and her choice of materials.

Her latest impressive work, the captivating photo series called “Salt Bride,” showcases a special collaboration with the unique properties of the Dead Sea. In 2014, Landau submerged a plain black dress in the lake as an artistic experiment. Over three months, she checked on the dress regularly, capturing its stunning transformation as salt crystals gradually covered the fabric.

The result was a profound transformation. The black garment was now coated in a sparkling, snowflake-like crust of crystals. Landau described it poetically, saying it resembled snow, sugar, or the embrace of death—captivated by its eerie yet beautiful change.

The “Salt Bride” series drew inspiration from the 1916 Yiddish play “The Dybbuk” by S. Ansky, a haunting supernatural drama. The play tells the story of a young woman who, on the brink of an arranged marriage, becomes possessed by the spirit of her deceased true love. Landau aimed to capture the play’s eerie atmosphere of forbidden love, spiritual intervention, and mysterious supernatural forces.

Interestingly, the original black dress was a carefully made copy of the costume worn in 1920s theater shows of “The Dybbuk.” As salt crystals formed on its fabric over time, the dark dress transformed into a shimmering, ghostly bride. The salt itself appeared to represent the mystical, powerful force that had taken over and changed the dress completely.

There was a meaningful connection between the material and artistic processes used. Just as the dress had to be completely submerged to undergo its stunning transformation with salt crystals, each of Landau’s photographs also needed to be immersed in a liquid emulsion for developing and printing.

When “Salt Bride” debuted at London’s respected Marlborough Contemporary gallery in 2016, viewers were captivated by Landau’s unique blend of natural and supernatural elements. Her skill in transforming the Dead Sea’s salts into surreal, ghostly sculptures seemed almost mystical. By working with this legendary landscape, Landau created images that shimmered with the ethereal and delicate essence of an ancient story.

Source:

Sigalit Landau: Website
Marlborough Contemporary: Website | Facebook | Instagram
via [Lost At E Minor, The New York Times Style Magazine]