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Indigoes is a result of my 2016 Crafts Council NL residency in Kyushu, Japan. It envisions the rug as a living structure which gradually changes colours as it is walked upon, supplementing the potential of indigo dye.
Compared to other paints and dyes, Indigo has the unique feature that instead of thoroughly dyeing the yarn, it forms a thin layer around it. This is because it reacts with oxygen, which can only exist around the yarn itself. As a result, the process involved with Indigo gives the treated textiles this very specific patina we see in jeans and the uniforms of French officers.

Indigoes, which can be perceived as an extension of Ripening Rugs, makes use of this quality by allowing brighter colours, hidden within the yarns that shape the carpet, to become visible as it wears. A rich palette of colours is gradually exposed on areas that were frequently walked on, transforming the aging of products to an exciting experience.
A crafts exchange, facilitated by Crafts Council NL, enabled me to visit several indigo craftsmen in Kyushu, Japan in September 2016 and become acquainted with this age-old technique.
