- Ecologies of Local Color(s) -
Color is all around us. While much of it seems visible, most of it is hidden in natural materials. Plants, food waste, bacteria, insects, soils and minerals, or algae, mosses and lichens - all contain forms of color that can be released into coloring molecules for textiles, pigments and inks.
For 10 years, Waag has researched textiles and natural dye-making from within her TextileLab, located at the heart of the city of Amsterdam. With the exhibition Chromatic Relations during GLUE Amsterdam 2025, Waag highlights this legacy, showcasing the urban environment as a generous harvesting ground for natural colors.
Cities as ecologies
The urban environment is not the first place that comes to mind when we think of gathering resources for natural colours and materials - yet it's a very abundant one that holds many opportunities. Cities are ecologies too—interwoven with living matter, layered histories and circular possibilities.
Through natural dye-making, we reconnect with ecological cycles that pulse throughout the urban landscape, transforming our perception of the city from concrete jungle into a living ecosystem. This practice of nourishing and releasing urban colors creates a circular pathway of care, revaluing and repurposing overlooked natural resources. It helps fostering our collective ecological consciousness and reveals the creative potential that grows everywhere around us – right under our feet.
GLUE Amsterdam
As a cultural partner of GLUE, Waag Futurelab aims to provide a platform for new ideas from the design world. Creating things, prototyping and practical experimentation allow us to work towards a better future. During GLUE, you can visit different venues throughout the city. See the map with participating venues.
