In the Colour Lab, lecturers and students from the Department of Art and Design explore the world of natural dyes and pigments. The focus is on collecting, processing, and testing plant-based colour sources while experimenting with naturally derived pigments.
Leaves, flowers, berries, roots, and other natural materials are crushed, simmered, and transformed into colours. Participants learn traditional dye-making techniques and discover how mixing colours or altering the pH value can produce a wide range of different hues. The handmade colours are then tested on paper and fabric using brushes as well as natural tools such as feathers, moss, and twigs.
The Colour Lab combines artistic practice with sustainability, fostering a conscious and creative approach to natural resources. A dye garden is currently being planned, where dye plants will be cultivated for the production of natural pigments. It will expand the Colour Lab as a living space for learning and experimentation, supporting long-term artistic exploration with natural colours.
