The Dead Sea is known for having the saltiest water in the world and one artist uses the Dead Sea as the medium for her naturally salt-encrusted art pieces.
The Dead Sea has the saltiest and most mineral-rich water in the world, with surface water having a salinity rate of 31.5% (approximately five to nine times higher compared to other ocean waters). Many visitors know about the fascinating buoyancy properties of this water, but one artist wanted to demonstrate the powerful natural forces of the Dead Sea.
Artist Sigalit Landau started a project of submerging clothing in the Dead Sea to seethe crystallization effect on garments submerged in the heavily salted water. Landau began her project with one garment that was a replica of the traditional Hasidic garment worn by the character of Leah in the Yiddish play ‘The Dybbuk.’
Landau uses a unique structure to keep the materials underwater for the salt crystallization transformation that prevents resurfacing too soon. After two months, the black Hasidic garment was pulled out of the Dead Sea, revealing a completely transformed garment with massive white salt crystals covering the now stiff garment. Since the beginning of her project, Landau has evolved from garments to objects transformed into salty masterpieces of art.
