Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny
LUCILA KENNY
Lucila Kenny is an Argentinean textile designer who runs a research-focused natural dyeing studio in Amsterdam that is concentrated on learning, sharing and exchanging information about the diversity of local plant species and their available colorants. Since 2017 Lucila has been working closely in collaboration with Painting Plants and the artist Naan Rijks, where they cultivate together a dye garden: researching, cultivating specific plants and testing different ways of colorant extractions which is then shared in tutorial based workshops and on their website. Lucila Kenny as a natural dyer and educator has worked with: universities, art academies, fashion designers, biologists and artists exploring, preparing and producing plant colorants for dyeing, inks and paints.
MORE ABOUT PAINTING PLANTS
Painting Plants is a research project focused on making paints and inks out of plants and how to make these suitable for different printing techniques. The project was started in 2011 by biologist and artist Naan Rijks, and is being executed inside the AGALAB in Amsterdam. Currently, more than 20 species of plants are being cultivated, all containing either dyes or pigments.
In the kitchen of the AGALAB, Painting Plants created a small laboratory set up for the extraction of pigments and the creation of paint. Experiments with printing techniques are conducted in the studio. In this garden there is room for humble ecological experimenting. The website has different functions; first and foremost as inspiration and motivation via recipes, both for the cultivation of the plants and the production of ink. The scientific background is described as well. This is also where the research project of Painting Plants gets published. During 2018 with the support of a start subsidie from the Stimulerings Fonds, the project worked in collaboration with: Wageningen University, Design Academy Eindhoven, HKU and BioArt Laboratories.
The research aims to increase the relevance and usability of organic and durable dyes and binders for artistic production. It intends to explore new concepts and put into discussion general assumptions about colour, ink and the responsible use of production material.
Painting Plants wants to raise awareness on environmental implications of art production and restore a cultural art form.
Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny
Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny
Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny
Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny
Image Courtesy of Lucila Kenny