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La Parole de l’Eau

Natural dye research revealing the unique characteristics of Camargue waters through color

With The Voice of Water, I give voice to the diverse waters of the Camargue by revealing their singularity through color.

This research explores an exceptional experimental landscape: the Camargue hydrosystem, a unique mosaic of waters that blends the Rhône River, salt marshes, the Mediterranean Sea, brackish lagoons, irrigation canals, and freshwater marshes. While natural dye research traditionally focuses on dye plants and often relies on standardized water, this approach—centered on the specific qualities of water—opens up a largely unexplored field.

Water plays a decisive role in both the process and outcome of natural dyeing. Its specific characteristics—pH, salinity, turbidity, conductivity, and temperature—directly shape the colors produced. This research demonstrates how each water source within the region uniquely influences the dyeing process, generating a true chromatic mapping of the Camargue hydrosystem.

Methodology

The project is structured around three methodological pillars:

  • Experimental Protocol:
    • Development of a resource-efficient dyeing protocol
    • Enhances the influence of water on the final color
    • This protocol was systematically applied to sixteen distinct water sampling sites
  • Local Resources:
    • Use of four plants native to the region — madder, Camargue black rice, grape seeds, and Provence reed
    • Use of Arles merino wool as the textile medium
    • Anchoring the approach in locally available materials
  • Comparative Analysis:
    • Design of an observation and analysis methodology
    • Study of chromatic variations
    • Enabling the identification of

Research Results

This research has led to several significant advancements:

  • Development of an innovative, resource-efficient dyeing protocol that optimizes the influence of water on dyeing outcomes.
  • Its reproducibility enables systematic comparison of results across different water sources.
  • Comparative analysis revealed the decisive impact of water properties on the final color.

This research also led to the creation of a unique territorial color chart:

  • Composed of dye samples on Arles merino wool, which meticulously documents the chromatic variations obtained with each combination of water and plant from the territory (madder, Camargue black rice, grape seed, Provence cane).

Informations

Context

Residency at Atelier LUMA – LUMA Arles (2024)

Collaboration:

Tour du Valat – Research Institute for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands

Materials:

Arles merino wool, local plants (madder, Camargue black rice, grape seeds, Provence reed)

Presentations:

Tour du Valat (World Wetlands Day, February 2025), École de l'Exploration, Saint-Malo (March 2025)
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EDUCATION 2020-2022 || Central Saint Martins MA Art & Science, graduated with Distinction 2018-2019 || Ateliers des Beaux-Arts de Paris 2008-2010 || Sorbonne University, Paris Master’s degree with a Major in “Arts and Culture” and a Minor in “Arts in Public Space” SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2024|| INMACULADXS– Institut du Mexique en France, Paris 2022 || Écho-Makoo, with Georgina Maxim – Galeries Regala and L’Interstice, Arles 2022 || The Ecofeminist Dinner Party – L’Été des Serpents, Arles 2022 ||Un reflejo de nuestras múltiples facetas, Galerie That’s What X Said, Brussels 2021 || Sois Belle et Tais-Toi, Collab Art Factory, Amsterdam 2021 || #monpremierharcelement, L’Atelier, Condé-en-Normandie 2020 || Beyond Self Reflection, Boogie Wall Gallery, London 2020 || Through the looking-glass, Gallery ZClub, Mexico City 2019 || #monpremierharcelement, 7th arrondissement City Hall, Paris 2019 || Sois Belle et Tais Toi, Louie Media, Paris 2018 || #monpremierharcelement, City Hall, Avignon 2018 || Topographic Studies, Balades Sonores, Paris 2018 || #monpremierharcelement, FGO-Barbara, Paris (This project received a Grant from City of Paris) 2017 || CUT/E, Objet Céleste, Paris 2017 || #monpremierharcelement, Centre Paris Anim La Chapelle, Paris 2016 || COCO, La Machine du Moulin Rouge, Paris 2014 || COLLAGES, Espace Demory Paris, Paris GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2025 || Constellations Fertiles– Le Consulat, Paris 2025 || Massa– Tesson projet Space, Paris 2024 || Natura al Habla– Centro Cultural Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador 2024 || L’intelligence des fleurs – Maison des Arts d’Antony, Antony, France 2024 || The Ecofeminist Dinner Party – La.ima, Arles, France 2022 || Immaculate misconception – The Locker Room, New York 2022 || Symbiocène – L’Été des Serpents, Arles 2022 || Central Saint Martins Graduation Show, London 2022 || Hybrid Art Fair – Casa Roga's booth, Madrid 2022 || Visible – Central Saint Martins, London 2021 || Aftermath : a Year of Desire – RedD Gallery, Chania, Greece 2021 || My love is your love – Every Woman Biennale, Copeland Gallery, London 2021 || International Remote Dinner Party – transference.tv, Central Saint Martins, virtual exhibition 2021 || Miroir, miroir - festival "POP meufs", Pavillon des Canaux, Paris 2020 || Protest & Protect - Feminist Art Museum’s virtual exhibition. 2020 || Hamptons Virtual Art Fair – Boogie Wall Gallery's Booth, New York and Online 2019 || #myfirstharassment - Make Space : Hope For Tomorrow, Euston Town, London 2019 || Hey Siri, Why don't I look like that girl on Intsagram? - Visual Diet, M&C Saatchi, London 2018 || Réflexions Quantiques - META collective (co-founded with 12 women artists), Galerie Diese22, Paris 2018 || Infiniment - META collective (co-founded with 12 women artists), FGO Barbara, Paris 2018 || Femmes illuminées - Group Show for "POP meufs" festival, Pavillon des Canaux, Paris 2016 || Tropicool- Summer Group Show by Klin d'Oeil Gallery curators, Klin d'Oeil Gallery, Paris 2016 || Charity Group Show for refugees, Gallery 21, Paris 2016 || Group Show by La Seinographe, Sergeant Paper Gallery, Paris 2016 || Group Show by Foreseen Studio curators, Bruxelles 2015 || Élévation - Chromatic Festival #6 by MassivArt art agency, Chalet du Mont Royal, Montréal, 2015 || May Day - Collagistas Festival #2, Tabya, Thessaloniki 2015 || Klin d'Oeil - Klin d'Oeil Art and Craft fair #6, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris 2014 || Carte Blanche - Group Show by curator Nancy Zastudil, Central Features Gallery, Albuquerque 2014 || Passion For Freedom London Art Festival - Group Show by curators Agnieszka Kolek et Katka Kowalska, The Embassy Tea Gallery, London 2013 || Klin d'Oeil, Le Trabendo, Paris COLLECTIONS Artworks in private collections in France, the UK, the Netherlands, Mexico and the USA. RESIDENCIES AND GRANTS 2024 || Atelier LUMA, Arles, France 2024 || Institut Français Art residency in Ecuadorian Amazon, Macas, Ecuador. 2023 || Massa Stories, Massa, Maroc. 2022 || Ateliers de La Madeleine in Arles, supervised by Eugénie Lefebvre (Les Magasins Généraux, Le Nouveau Printemps de Toulouse...). 2021 ||Casa Roga in Mexico City. 2017 || Cultural project grant from the City of Paris for #monpremierharcelement. PUBLICATIONS 2024 || Palabras del Amazonas, Editions Subte Chuna (Ecuador) 2024 || Un détail de Taille, Editions Quintal (France) 2023 || Nosotras Cautivas, Editions Bucle (Argentina) PRESS REVIEW 2024 || Interview about the Amazon residency project on Radio France International 2022 || «Encuentros con creadores. Regresan las ferias en Madrid», ELLE España. 2021 || « Truth and Belief : Sois Belle et Tais-Toi. » in « Humanities, Arts and Society Magazine » third issue published with Unesco. 2020 || Cover and interview about "Beyond Self Reflection" in Arte Visual Mexico. 2020 || Interview about "Beyond Self Reflection" in View of the Arts. 2020 || Interview in On Art and Aesthetics. 2019 || Interview about #myfirstharassment exhibition in Art Critique and Cupo Magazine. 2019 || TV interview "The Art of Feminism" in 51% TV Show on France 24 Channel 2019 || Articles about "Hey Siri, Why don't I look like that girl on Instagram" at Visual Diet exhibition in Arts and Collections, Little Black Book, Hunger. 2018 || Interview about #monpremierharcelement exhibition in Avignon on Virgin Radio and RFM Radio 2018 || Interviews and article about #monpremierharcelement exhibition in Avignon in Midi Libre, La Provence, Le Dauphiné Libéré, Vaucluse Matin, Avignon(s) Mag. 2018 || Interviews in Cheek Magazine and Les Inrockuptibles Column in A Nous Paris, Article by Camille Diao on Radio Nova, France 2017 || Interview about #monpremierharcelement in Les Carnets de La Création on France Culture public Radio , France 2017 || Interview and photo report by Passerbuysm, New York 2017 || Interview about #monpremierharcelement on franceinfo.tv, France 2016 || Interview and photo report in Paris-Shangai-Fashion blog, Shangai 2016 || Interview in 20minutes.fr, Paris 2015 || Article and art critic in Apogée Journal #6, New York 2015 || Artwork publication in Manuel, Revue Érotique #1, Paris 2014 || Article and artshow review in Kiblind #51, Paris - Lyon - Bordeaux 2013 || Interview in Ponytail art blog, London TALKS & WORKSHOPS 2025 || Interdisciplinary forum for oceanic rights, Ecole de l'exploration, Saint-Malo 2025 || Intervention for students at the Agadir School of Fine Arts, Morocco 2025 || Research-creation seminar 2024-2025 ‘Orner le monde’, Ecole des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, le 19M, Paris 2024 || Panel discussion “Art and Science in the Service of Nature’s Rights,” Alliance Française de Quito, Ecuador 2024 || Panel discussion “Arts and Matrimony,” European Heritage Days, Cité Audacieuse, Paris 2024 || Lecture “Creating with Local Resources: The Art of Taking Root,” ARDIS Art and Design Biennale, Cuenca, Ecuador 2024 || Series of natural dye workshops, La Parcelle du 19m, Paris 2024 || Participatory sequin embroidery workshop, Mexican Cultural Institute, Paris 2023 || Participatory engagement for the “What If Women Ruled the World” project by Judy Chicago and Nadya Tolokonnikova, Material Art Fair, Mexico City 2023 || Panel discussion “What If Women Ruled the World,” Material Art Fair, Mexico City 2023 || Creative Collage Workshop, Le Paon, Paris 2022 || Queer Sequin Embroidery Workshop, Central Saint Martins, London 2021 || Discussion on ecofeminism with Pascale d’Erm, Marine Calmet, and María Galvis, Gravity Festival, Good Planet Foundation by Yann Arthus Bertrand, Paris 2021 || Workshop “The Power of Collage for Creativity,” Muses of Now, Barcelona 2021 || Panel on ecofeminism with Pascal d’Erm and Les Engraineuses, Gravity Festival, Fondation Good Planet by Yann Arthus Bertrand, Paris 2021 || « The power of collage for creativity » invited by Muses of Now 2020 || Panel and virtual exhibition on ecofeminism at Polarized Festival by Loud Spring Art Tank, in partnership with La Cité Fertile, Paris 2020 || "Parcours d'Education au Regard" and "Artiste en résidence au collège" in partnership with La Gaité Lyrique, Paris 2019 || The Female gaze, invited by MTArt Agency at Marina Rinaldi headquarters, London 2019 || On women reclaiming technology, workshops during Computer Grrrls Art Exhibition at La Gaité Lyrique, Paris 2019 || La médiatisation des femmes artistes, invited by Culture, Femmes et Media at La Bellevilloise, Paris