BioChromes¶

01. Getting Started with Biochromes¶

The Biochromes week began with global and local lectures, where we were introduced to the materials, methods, and workflows behind making colour from natural sources.

There is a world of possibilities for exploring colour through organic materials, understanding the relationship between fibres and colour, and discovering what our surrounding environment can offer us.

Before heading outdoors, we started by getting familiar with the materials and processes we would be working with.

Dyes, Inks, and Pigments¶

We explored three different approaches to working with colour: dyes, inks, and pigments.

Mapping the Materials¶

We began by exploring and documenting the materials available for our experiments.

Classifying the Fabrics¶

Before experimenting with colour, we sorted our fabrics according to their fibre origins: plant-based and animal-based.

Weighing the Fabrics: WOF¶

We then weighed our fabrics to establish the Weight of Fabric (WOF).

Building the Workflow¶

[workflow diagram]

The workflow will connect fabric preparation, material selection, and the different approaches to working with colour.

Creating a Material Matrix¶

[material matrix]

The matrix will help organise the different fabric types, colour methods, mordants, modifiers, and experimental results.

02. Field Trip: Abu Al-Sous Forest¶

Our destination was Abu Al-Sous Forest, approximately 10 km south of the lab. Together with Esraa, Zeina, our colleague Mohammad, and our local instructor, Claudia, we set out to explore the surrounding landscape and look for plants that could become potential sources of natural colour.

Collecting and Identifying Plants¶

We collected plant samples and used a plant identification app to investigate what we were finding along the way.

Collected plant sample

Plant identification result

Each sample offered a new possibility for experimentation, reminding us that potential colour sources can be found all around us when we take the time to look more closely.

Getting to Know Our Materials: Acorns¶

One of the materials I collected and later experimented with was acorns.

Oak tree at Abu Al-Sous Forest

Collected acorns

Acorns became one of the natural materials I wanted to investigate further, exploring their potential as a source of colour.

The field trip was not only about collecting materials for our experiments; it was also about learning to observe our surroundings differently and recognising the possibilities hidden in everyday natural materials.

03. A Language in the Making: Exhibition Day¶

Friday marked the exhibition of the works developed during the Touch: Experimental Weaving Residency, part of Amman Design Week's programme.

Titled A Language in the Making, the exhibition brought together the outcomes of an intensive period of experimentation.

The exhibition was wonderful, and the response to the works was very encouraging.

Exhibition overview

Works from the residency

Artwork details

Visitors at the exhibition

04. Collective Exploration: Inks and Pigments¶

We had a collective session dedicated to inks and pigments, exploring different ways of producing colour, preparing materials, and documenting our experiments.

Materials and Ingredients¶

[Materials and ingredients used during the session]

Methods and Recipes¶

[Preparation methods, recipes, quantities, and steps for each experiment]

Preparing the materials

Making inks and pigments

Experiments and Results¶

[Observations and documentation of the resulting inks, pigments, and colour tests.]

Inks and pigments

Colour tests

05. From Forest to Colour: Dyeing and Shibori¶

After our field trip, we brought our collected materials back to the lab to explore their potential as sources of colour.

We prepared dyes from the collected materials, processed the extracts, and experimented with applying colour to textiles. We also tried shibori, exploring how folding, binding, and resisting parts of the fabric can influence the patterns created during dyeing.

Preparing the Natural Dyes¶

[Details about processing the collected materials and preparing the dyes]

Exploring Shibori¶

[Details about the shibori techniques used during the session.]

Preparing the fabric

Dyeing process

06. A Lecture on Wool and Natural Dyes¶

During the week, I attended a lecture by Ishraq Zureikat about wool and its material possibilities.

I asked her about natural dyes for wool, and she introduced me to madder root for red and indigo for blue.

Although I didn't have enough time to experiment with them during this week, I hope to return to these materials and investigate them through hands-on experimentation.

07. Individual Experiments¶

Each participant selected two materials to experiment with individually. I chose acorns and alkanet.

Experiment 01: Acorns¶

I boiled the acorns to extract their colour and divided the extract into three different mixtures.

Mixture 1: Base Extract¶

[Recipe, preparation details, and results]

Mixture 2: Modified Extract¶

[Ingredient, quantity, preparation details, and results]

Mixture 3: Modified Extract¶

[Ingredient, quantity, preparation details, and results]

Three acorn dye mixtures

Acorn dye results

Observations¶

[Observations about the colour differences between the three mixtures and their results on the fabric]

Experiment 02: Alkanet¶

I experimented with alkanet and ethanol to explore another approach to extracting colour

Materials and Proportions¶

[Quantities of alkanet and ethanol, including the proportions used]

Preparation Method¶

[Preparation process, extraction time, and other relevant conditions]

First Result¶

[Observations about the initial extract]

Further Experiments¶

[Subsequent steps, adjustments, or variations tested]

Observations¶

[Notes on the appearance of the extract, colour changes, and differences between the initial and later results]

08. Comparing the Experiments¶

[Observations comparing the acorn and alkanet experiments, including preparation methods, resulting colours, and the behaviour of the extracts.]

09. Weekly Reflection¶

[What did I learn? What surprised me? What would I do differently? How could these experiments connect to my future textile and material explorations?]

10. Recipe Files and References¶

[Recipe files, documentation, and references]