Of the Same Root: CHAT with BUAISOU Interns

In winter 2022, CHAT openly recruited indigo lovers from Hong Kong to participate in the BUAISOU Internship Programme 2023. The talk will feature artists Antonia Cheung and Chan Pei, as they share their 3-month immersion in BUAISOU’s studio and farms in Tokushima. From cultivating natural dyes, harvesting and fermentation, to the intricate dyeing process, we will unravel the lesser-known stories behind Japanese indigo production and explore the potential of developing natural dyeing in Hong Kong.

The exclusive 3-month internship programme follows the Absolute Blue: BUAISOU Works with Japanese Natural Indigo exhibition presented in CHAT’s Winter Programme 2022. It is the first comprehensive exhibition to introduce the works by BUAISOU, a young craft collective working with Japanese natural indigo. Based in Tokushima, BUAISOU pursues the craft of Japanese natural indigo dye through traditional fermentation methods. From cultivating, processing and fermenting indigo, to dyeing, most of their production procedures are performed manually using traditional methods. While upholding the revered traditions of the centuries-old craft, they pushed the boundaries beyond textiles and communicates with contemporary audiences through diverse collaborations with international brands and designers.

Language: Cantonese with simultaneous interpretation into English