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.
www.paintingplants.nl
Flower, fruit, leaf, husk and root - Experiments in growing colour
Naan Rijks und Lucila Kenny
Design: Alex Walker
Texts: Barbara Collé
Published by: Mumbling Matter, 2024 - Edition of 200 copies - Covers are silkscreen-printed with plant colour.
“This book is about a woman who, well into her eighties, still jumped on her bike with a young
tree under her arm to plant it in good, fertile soil in a communal garden. And it also tells the story
of another woman who got her most hopeful life insight from the transformation process of a
plant.”
Since 2011, Naan Rijks, visual artist and biologist and now 92 years old, has been growing dye
plants in a communal garden in the west of Amsterdam with the purpose of creating printing ink
and paint. In 2017 she was joined by Lucila Kenny, and together they have been taking a deeper
look into the way colourants develop in these plants, the different entanglements that affect this,
and what it can teach us about ecosystems and relationality. Naan and Lu have always shared
their knowledge, inspiration and insights with everyone through workshops and this book is
entirely in that line of sharing. The book gives you practical information about dyes and inks from
plants, it is full of beautiful images of plants and artworks by both Naan Rijks and Lucila Kenny.
Text: Barbara Collé
