Coast Whispers

Site-specific work for the Municipality of Tjörn, Sweden

Public Commission

Coast Whispers

This public commission began when an art consultant introduced Yemisi Wilson’s work to the Municipality of Tjörn. She was invited to propose a site-specific project and visited the location in December. In March, she presented sketches, scale models, and material tests using local stone.

Wilson worked on-site throughout May, engaging with residents who often stopped by. She returned in August to complete two sculptures and create two new works — Bird and Mackerel — and led an alabaster workshop for the Bleket society. The project concluded with an inauguration on September 6. She notes a deep connection to the place and community and plans to revisit regularly.

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The Coast Whispers in Stone

That is such a wonderful name for the artwork that we see here today. It is an honor to inaugurate the artwork “The Coast Whispers in Stone” here at Bleket’sbathing place today.

I will begin by going back in time first, to the year 1973. That is when Bleket’s recreational association was formed. A non-profit association with thegoal of developing Bleket’s bathing place and community.

In 1975, the association started the swimming school.In 1977, they got a boathouse from two fishermen who didn’t want it anymore.Theassociation still uses the boathouse to hold events of various kinds. All to strengthentheir solidarity.

Later, they built the sauna. The work on the bathing place continued from being a slightly rounded bay to becoming the functional bathing place it is today.

I am starting my opening speech like this because I am so impressed by the fantastic work ofBlekets Fritidsförening in developing Blekets bathing place and its surroundings. All credit toyou.

Now it is the next step. To the art. You in Blekets Fritidsförening have now also participated in the site analysis around thebathing place and have also stimulated our fine artist Yemisi Wilson in her work of sculpting

the masterpiece that she has created here at the bathing place.

And now to the question why the culture and leisure committee is investing resources in a

work of art like “The Coast Whispers in Stone”? The municipal council in Tjörn makes annual

decisions regarding the municipality’s budget. This also includes a decision point that states

that there should be funds for public decoration in Tjörn municipality. “The Coast Whispers in Stone” will cost 12,000 kronor a year. The annual operating budget for Tjörn municipality is approximately 1 billion. This decision is based on the Vision for the municipality and the cultural policy strategy.

The vision for the municipality of Tjörn points out three unique values as the basis for Tjörn’s development: the sea, the open landscape and culture.

The cultural policy strategy, which was also taken by the municipal council, states that Tjörn’s municipality is very strong in the visual and formal arts. The institutions that exist create a fertile ground for new cutting-edge projects and ideas that

further strengthen Tjörn.Societies characterized by a rich artistic life are an important factor for increased quality of life. Art breaks up and challenges, but also creates meaning and context.

Tjörn will strengthen its position as an art municipality by being cutting-edge, courageous and at the forefront. New methods will be tested that challenge and put art in focus.

The artwork “The Coast Whispers in Stone” is precisely cutting-edge, courageous and at the forefront. Created with new methods.

I think it’s wonderful.

Benita Nilsson

Opening of “The Coast Whispers in Stone”

Blekets bathing beach September 6, 2025

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Seal Sculpture, Granite — Blekets Badplats, 2025

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“I worked directly in the rocks on site, as if part of the landscape itself.”

For this commission, I worked directly in the stone on site, as if the sculptures were part of the landscape itself. I lived in the area during the process and had an ongoing dialogue with the residents, allowing the work to evolve through that exchange.

In my early sketches, most of the sculptures were placed higher up, away from the waterfront; I didn’t dare to touch that already perfect part of the landscape. But the residents—and an architect during my presentation—pointed out that many children and elders don’t walk up the rocky path. Listening to this changed my approach, grounding them more firmly in how the place is actually used.
In my mind I travelled in time during my working days, since this landscape itself evokes eras of thousands years. That’s why it was important to make the sculptures in a way that would stand/work/last/function for a long time ahead.

— Yemisi Wilson

I worked directly in the rocks on site, as if part of the landscape itself.

— Yemisi Wilson

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—Benita Nilsson
Opening of “The Coast Whispers in Stone” Blekets bathing beach September 6, 2025