The Exploration of Vegetable Dyes in Fibre Artworks

Abstract

Natural dyes are made from natural sources such as plants, minerals, or insects. The use of natural dyes in the textile field was discovered during the late Bronze Age and Iron Age. Today there is consciousness about the friendliness of natural dyes for the colouration of textile art. By experimenting with various materials in the production of natural dyes, it has triggered a highly variant development of dye that brings benefits in the textile art industry. This research objective was to identify the types of local vegetables suitable to produce dyes for fibre artwork. This study was conducted using a qualitative research design also involving studio experiments. The purpose of the experiments was to produce the dyes from vegetable extracts and to apply them into an artwork base on landscape scenery. The exploration of techniques determines the colour of the artwork. Generally, this research can produce special aesthetic qualities in Fibre Art which is significant for a product that is environmentally friendly. This study could add value to textile design, craftwork, and the Fibre Art industry.