Image courtesy Studio Kühü.
£45 / £40 members / £40 concessions
Taking inspiration from nature and the flora around us, including the SLG’s Orozco Garden, this workshop invites you to explore the history and practice of botanical dyes. Participants will learn about the cultural heritage of natural dyeing, with reference to dyes from North Africa in dialogue with the current Yto Barrada exhibition.
Guided by artist and designer Mariana Leyva, from Studio Kühü, you will create your own colourful, bundle-dyed silk scarf using flower petals, food waste pigments, and natural extracts. Alongside hands-on practice, Mariana will share techniques on:
- Post-dyeing treatments and fabric care
- How to use safe, non-toxic mordants at home
- Ways to repeat the process with everyday kitchen waste
- Foraging responsibly for dye plants in local environments, and suggestions for cultivating dye plants at home
While the bundles are steaming, participants will be invited to take part in a short meditative plant-drawing exercise, encouraging close observation of the plants and materials used in the workshop, and offering a moment of reflection and calm.
FURTHER INFORMATION
- This is an workshop for adults, participants must be over 18 years.
- No prior experience is required.
- All materials will be provided
ABOUT MARIANA LEYVA
Mariana Leyva is a London-based designer, textile artist, and founder of Studio Kühü, a natural dye studio dedicated to sustainable, plant-based colour. Drawing on her Mexican heritage and inspired by dye traditions from around the world, her practice explores the intersections of art, ecology, and cultural memory.
Through bespoke dyed textiles, research-led projects, and participatory workshops, Mariana reconnects contemporary audiences with ancestral dyeing knowledge, celebrating the stories woven into every fibre. Her work has been featured in collaborations with designers, artists, and cultural institutions across the UK and internationally, fostering dialogue around environmental stewardship and the role of craft in shaping more sustainable futures.
TICKET INFORMATION
- Tickets are limited and sold online through Eventbrite.
- If an event is sold out, there may still be tickets on the door. These will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed.
- Please note the South London Gallery’s terms and conditions.
- All tickets purchased through the South London Gallery’s website and/or the South London Gallery’s Eventbrite account are non-refundable.