DYE SAMPLER
Materials:
Cotton, linen, silk, merino wool, natural plant dyes, leather, digital print, brass
Concept:
This textile sampler is more than just a collection of colours—it’s a visual story of a journey through the Brigalow Belt Bioregion South. Each woven sample captures a moment in time, serving as an environmental archive that records the influence of the season, the weather, and the natural dyeing process specific to the day.
Natural dye colours are inherently unique, shaped by a variety of factors like the type of plant material used, temperature and length of extraction time. To create these hues, leaves and bark are soaked and boiled to extract vibrant pigments, which then dye the fibres immersed in the dye bath. Eucalypts, rich in tannin, are prized for producing durable, lasting colours, but Acacia and Angophora also contribute their own beautiful shades to this palette.
In this set of samples, the same careful process was repeated for each sampled tree. From a single tree, eight different colours emerge—four derived from its leaves and four from its bark. To explore how mordants influence colour, three of the fibres were pre-treated with substances like Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), and Alum (Al), while one fibre was dyed without any mordant at all.
Through this meticulous process, I have come to know these trees intimately—spending time, listening, and learning from their subtle secrets. Each colour tells a story of connection, tradition, and the natural world’s unending capacity for transformation.
Exhibitions:
• Landrelations, Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, Booragul NSW Australia 1 Aug – 30 Oct 2025
Thanks:
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Council, its arts funding and advisory body.