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Textile experiments



Lau have been taking part in Natural Dyes and Indigo Vat by Pirita Lauri as part of a Textile Printing course in Aalto University, Traditional Cypriot Weaving workshop given by Julia Astreou in Nicosia (CY-2022), Natural Dyes Workshop by Maria Pithara (CY-2022), and Introduction and practice of weaving at the Craft Center in Parikkala (FI-2021).




Furthermore, they developed their research in textile coloring and composition during Residencies.

During the Oma Taidetalo Residency (FI-2022), their research revolved around the rag rug tradition, organic photography and the themes of everyday life in Simpele. The installation Mattolaituri included anthotypes changing along the exhibition reacting to the sunlight, pictures taken from the rug cleaning places of Simpele, and textile research and samples.




Their research continued at the Kammari Residency learning traditional weaving techniques and local plant dyes (CY-2022).


                   


And furthered at the Mustarinda Residency (FI-2022), they focused on foraged finnish mushroom dyes made without adding harmful substances to the local environment. The coloured wool and cotton were later assembled inspired by Kainuu region patterns.





This research on weaving, organic printing techniques (natural printing with madder and tumeric) and natural dyes continued during their Textile Minor at Aalto University (2023-2024). Lau acquired more specific knowledge on textile production techniques and materials. They continued researching creative porcesses that encompasses all of the collaborations and materials that they have been in conversation with.


   
  


touching ground: is a deeper ongoing research interspecies communication, on fibers and their ways to react and bound with others (water, heat, bacterias, plants, pigments, animals). The textiles have been designed and woven with computer aided, industrial looms and jacquard looms. I experimented with stories (sound and language), natural dyes (logwood, onion skins, mushroom, indigo, madde), overdyeing, felting and shibori. The final selection of 3 pieces, pile of wool (two different shades of natural wool) felted and dyed with logwood, roots (linen and wool) dyed with indigo and felted, and knots (cotton and wool) dyed with mushroom dye, were exhibited in Aalto University in June 2024.


   



During their Master thesis research, they continued working with mushroom dyes and weaving. They focused on the process of getting wool from the sheep, its processes and spinning. They experimented with natural dyes on raw wool and handspun yarns.