Growing Blue is a collection of 102 filter papers and cloths that were used as part of the process of extracting indigo pigment from leaves of the Woad (Isatis tinctoria) plant. These leaves were harvested between June 2020 and December 2021 by Lucila Kenny and Naan Rijks, from plants they are growing in the communal garden next to their studio, as part of their project ‘Painting Plants’. These filters show the residual colour, after the pigment has been decanted and used to make paint. They are artefacts which capture a moment in time and an alchemic encounter with the plant. Below are photos showing the process, and an accompanying text by colour philosopher Barbara Collé.
Growing Blue
There is light, there is soil
There is Woad and a human being
Accompanied with water, life flows
full of rhythm and enchantment.
All interact just until that wondrous moment
everything comes together
To blue.
These are traces of a colour who only shows herself through a very close collaboration between human and plant. Only by the inter-action between the leaves of the Woad and the hands of a human being the blue becomes visible. And this body of blue also visualises the story of the deeply loving friendship between artists Lucila Kenny, Naan Rijks and the blue soul of the Woad. These blue tinges are memories of countless shared moments where in deep concentration, zest for life and curiosity, both plant and human expose themselves, so that their collective energy could transform into a blue that is free to appear as new every time again.
"During the process, as we carefully harvest the leaves of the Woad plant, or a little later, when we pour the water countless times until it foams green blue, our thoughts tumble over each other: Is this morning blue deepened by the light of last night's full moon? Does the pigment tend more towards grey because of the harsh autumn wind yesterday? And dear blue, do you adapt to my mood because I, the person who harvest your leaves, am passionately in love?"
It was summer, it became autumn, time passed from very early to nightfall, we traveled between garden and studio and during this whole cycle the blue came and went and came again. We invite you to have a look at the infinite universe of the Isatis tinctoria blue and experience the moments where Woad, human, water and enchantment grew into blues.
With love, Lucila Kenny and Naan Rijks
Growing Blue is published in 2023 by Mumbling Matter — a project highlighting artistic practices that are grounded in resourceful, do-it-yourself and collective methods of production. Mumbling Matter is initiated by Alex Walker and is kindly supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL.
Coding: Eurico Sá Fernandes Design: Alex Walker