Zig zag design 7.jpg

This project is part of Ceres Artists in Residence at The Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA). The aim of the residency was to use objects from MoDA's collection as a starting point for exploration of natural prints and dyes with the aim of raising the awareness of sustainability in design research.

The linen was dyed in carrot tops prior to printing, giving a pale yellow background colour.

The design was screen printed with dye pastes made from bio-waste and plant extracts. The first main layer was screen-printed with chlorophyll overprinted with soda ash, the zig zag with weld, the medium size squares with avocado stones and pomegranate skins, the small squares with buckhorn (yellow), cutch (beige/brown) and elderberries (grey).

The photo show the final printed repeat pattern design as well as the different printing stages before that.

After steaming and washing, the printed colours appear more vivid, especially the weld that turned bright yellow and the combination chlorophyll/ soda ash which reveal a minty colour. The small squares with cutch and soda ash are more visible whilst the medium squares printed with avocado and pomegranate remain pale.