Through the materials lens, we explore in a multi-perspective research of what are the conditions, opportunities and relations offered by the matter itself, be it for dyeing, growing, thriving, sustaining or simply relating and passing on stories of out past, present and near future.
To unpack all these elements, we crafted a series of research lines – each a fundamental piece of the puzzle, to support us in seeing the unseen again.
When talking about biochromes, we speak about dye matter deriving from natural resource, ranging from plant matter all the way to bacteria and minerals, passing by animal and composite resources.
The materials taxonomy organises and makes sense of the various sources of dye matter, looking at how these relate to one another, but also how do we as humans relate to them.
It opens up the general concept of “natural dyes” and develops into 6 natural domains, of both organic and inorganic matter. Within local color we explore how these categories relate also to the urban context, outlining which matter is more or less present, sustainable to be harvested or gathered in the wild, or acknowledge the lack of certain categories in the urban context.
In local color, the botanical domain is the most explored because of the urban setting and the numerous opportunities in bringing back the concept of a locally productive city.
The plants catalogue offers in depth information about how to grow and care for a selection of local dye plants. Each page highlights stories and know-how about the selected plants, also exploring how people have been reading to these resources, employing them for dyes, health care benefits, ceremonial or symbolic uses.
find out more about which plants to grow and how to create an infinite color palette of botanical dyes
When we think of natural colors, we do not often realise the infinite possibilities of plants alone, in the city.
Color permeates our environments, yet it is mostly overlooked, or seen as ephemeral. Our city holds in its green areas more than meets the eye at first sight, color sources that not only are quite fast, but also very abundant, because are locally native or have become that. At times, even weeds and invasive species offer incredible color opportunities – one person’s annoyance (often in the form of weed or invasive plant) is another person’s greatest gift (an opportunity for color!).
Color is also seasonal, meaning that different plants thrive at different moments – even a city is never a dull place for a natural dyer in search for a golden yellow, a warm red or muddy green.
explore the endless possibilities, discover which plants produce which color!
Through the local color maps we explore in a geographical setting where color is present in the city.
Looking at our dye garden and nursery, other community gardens, in-between green urban areas and exploring where else color sources are already present in the city, without our intervention. Think of oak trees producing both acorns and oak galls thanks to the intervention of wasps; or hulls of the horse chestnut tree; but also bee & Butterly friendly plants, that also have health or dye properties.
Color is mapped to see what’s been all along, but had been forgotten, or became something we do not longer register in our minds as source of opportunities for locally productive cities.
When we speak about where botanical dyes thrive in Local color, we speak about Amsterdam’s green spots, gardens, community growing places and in-between areas. What the all have in common is simply the most overlooked matter on earth: SOIL.
Local color doesn’t deep dive profoundly into soil concerns, be it richness or poorness, but it does acknowledge the importance of soil – we look at the effects before-after of dye gardens. Some plants thrive in native poor soil, some take advantage of the current nitrogen over-abundance and take in some of that extra nitrogen. What is undoubtably interesting, is that soil is the common element binding all plants, but it also is always a source of new community connections between our project and other initiatives, such as worm hotels, bokashi composters and general composting groups that are ready to share their surplus resources for a healthy soil.
chromatographies to look into Amsterdam's underground soul