Colours are a pervasive aspect our everyday lives and influences how we experience and see the world - from impacting our moods and evoking emotions, to stimulating our minds or being an outward expression of our personality and identity. Accordingly, colours have meaning, and it differs for everyone. The meanings of colour are not just tied to how we perceive them, but also how colours are formed and created, especially from the natural world around us. Nowhere is this more evident than in the changing seasons of life. Colours radiate or fade according to the time of day or the time of year. More importantly, colours are often created from different materials that are readily available in nature at specific times of the year. As such, seasons play a huge role in our understanding of how colours are created, and the meaning attached to them. It is this understanding that forms the basis of the exhibition “Seasons of Colours”.
Using an array of visual images, physical objects, and natural materials collected from the research conducted in Colour4CRAFTS, an EU Horizon-funded project, the “Seasons of Colours” exhibition not only showcases the recent work and research activities of the project, but also aims to be a multisensory experience that includes the touch of textiles, smell of materials found in nature, and the sight of colour samples, clothing designs and crafts. The main objective of the exhibition is to illuminate the different ways through which colour creation, colouration practices, and colour meanings are cultivated from and shaped by the seasons.
“Seasons of Colours” features:
- 3D models that highlight the various colours connected to the seasons and different parts of plants and trees, and the chemical and molecular structures of colourants;
- images and informational displays showcasing historical evidence of traditional craft and colouration practices, natural dye experiments, and bio-based substances used from nature;
- videos demonstrating the processes of scientifically analysing bio-based colourants and dyed textiles, and modifying these bio-based dyes for sustainable use;
- historical artefacts and objects related to the production of dyes and textiles;
- natural dyed textile samples, and traditional folk costumes inspired garments and jewellery, along with clothing designed and constructed with natural dyed materials;
- woven colour studies and art pieces from students’ coursework;
- and interactive activities for children and adults.
The exhibition highlights traditional craft and colouration practices that were created from bio-based substances found in nature across the seasons and how these practices and natural materials can be stretched to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for future seasons to come. As a result, the exhibition raises awareness about natural colourants, supports traditional craft skills, and illuminates the potential of futures technology related to colouration.
The “Seasons of Colours” exhibition will open on 10 June and will run throughout the summer until 18 August 2024. There will be a special livestreamed seminar about the exhibition on 10 June at 14:00 EEST at the University of Lapland and a kick-off event to mark the exhibition’s opening on the evening of 10 June at 18:00 EEST in the Valo and Katve galleries in Arktikum-house. Both the seminar and opening event of the exhibition are open to everyone. Full details of the seminar and the opening event will be provided in due course. Follow us on social media for updates or check back here to updates.
When:
10 June - 18 August 2024
Where:
Valo and Katve Galleries 1 & 2
Pohjoisranta 4
96200 Rovaniemi, Finland
How:
TBC
The EU-Horizon funded research project, Colour4CRAFTS, includes researchers from the University of Helsinki, University of Lapland, University of Tartu, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage KIK-IRPA, University of Leeds and PILI.