The Museum of Fiber Arts recently held the “Discovering Dali Colors—Plant Field Survey and Dyeing Workshop,” inviting the public to explore Dali Sports Park and the museum’s outdoor garden to experience the charm of natural dye plants firsthand. Participants began by collecting pandan leaves for dyeing and observed how colors magically transformed using five different mordants. Together, they created layered and vibrant color swatches. At the end of the workshop, the plant residues were returned to the soil, reflecting the museum’s commitment to sustainable craft practices aligned with the SDGs.

Director Chien Hui-Hua noted that the museum is located within Dali Sports Park, which spans approximately seven hectares and is filled with lush greenery—a popular spot for recreation and exercise. The workshop was led by Sun Tsui-Lan, Chair of the Yilan Plant Dyeing Workshop Development Association. During the field survey from Shengli 2nd Road to Shengli 1st Road, participants discovered a rich variety of natural dye plants within the park, including golden shower tree, red and yellow ironwood, Taiwan flame tree, mahogany, sweetgum, periwinkle, large-leaf camphor, silver wattle, mulberry, breadfruit, pandan, and bamboo leaves—a true natural color palette.

Throughout the workshop, participants practiced plant dyeing techniques such as chopping pandan leaves, extracting dye through boiling, mordanting, and washing. They produced color samples with five different mordants—none, aluminum, tin, copper, and iron—resulting in the creation of the “Dali 001 Color” fabric. After a full day of hands-on experience, participants not only gained detailed learning records but also developed a deeper appreciation for the diverse possibilities of plant-based colors.

“Who would have thought that everyday plants could produce such beautiful colors?” one participant shared. Many expressed excitement for future workshops, eager to collect more plants and expand their palette of “Dali Colors.”

The museum is currently showcasing the results of this field survey in its main hall. The exhibition runs alongside the special exhibition Discovering Lanyang Colors: Turtle and Snake Guarding the Coastal Palette until September 14. Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibitions. For more information, visit the museum’s official website or Facebook page.