2021 / Materials: Maple & cochineal / Project assistant: Karla Rosales

A color study that explores an innovative technique to color wood. Different wooden pieces were immersed in hot water with cochineal, an insect that feeds on cacti juices, and other natural substances, recreating the ancestral textile method of dyeing. With alkaline additives, the color changes to purple and scarlet tones while the result with acid elements turns from oranges to vibrant reds.

This experimentation is materialized through the creation of two essential chairs made of maple wood where color is the main feature. The first chair is a compilation of the six inks that can be created with cochineal and alkaline or acid elements while the second one is a monochrome pink chair that pays tribute to the vibrant color of the pigment.

Overall, this approach to color wood demonstrates that natural options can be created through local and traditional techniques.