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 that 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—and of Arles merino wool as the textile medium, anchoring the approach in locally available materials.
  • Comparative Analysis: Design of an observation and analysis methodology to study chromatic variations, enabling the identification of correlations between water characteristics and dyeing outcomes.

Research Results

This research has led to several significant advancements. The development of an innovative, resource-efficient dyeing protocol 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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