Natural Dyed

Crape myrtle, velvet bean, fukugi tree, shoulang yam and the old betel nuts.

We followed sensei Yanzi to collect dyes in the tribe, learn boil dyeing, and the peaceful mud dyeing.

The tropical sea breeze and the natural colors emerge slowly, it is very beautiful.

The Kamaro'an objects have always only had three basic colors, because we felt that dyeing vats can never dye as beautiful as nature.

The yellow-green of fukugi, the pink of betel nut, the hazy gray-purple color of velvet bean... the natural dyeing is like the appearance of time and nature.

Shoulang Yam Dyeing

Long, long ago, when Sawmah's grandfather was still young, people of the tribe would dye woven fabrics red using potato nut. They would soak the dyed fabric in a stream with red-colored water for several days (likely from a hot spring containing sulfur). As the stream slowly washed over it, the shoulang-dyed cloth would deepen in color, becoming more vibrant and durable, utilizing iron ore from nature as a mordant.

Betel Nut Dyeing

Looking at the triangular bags dyed in shades of pinkish betel nut, "Betel nut is the color of love for the Amis people," said Sawmah.

Betel nut is a crucial item in Amis social life, deeply intertwined even in ordinary days. Betel nut trees are typically planted every two meters along the boundaries of each household. When by the stream, it's customary to fold betel nut leaves, insert a few pebbles, and cook creek shrimp, fondly referred to as "stone pot." Betel nut serves as a tooth-cleansing food; the heart of the betel nut, along with bamboo shoot hearts and rattan hearts, are beloved ingredients for the Amis people. The trunk of the betel nut tree is also a commonly used building material for houses.

We moved our Hualien studio to a place that is close to the sea this year. It has a large backyard that we could dye freely every month.

In the mountains, every plant and tree grows. People gather them, take them home to dye and weave, wearing and using them daily, repairing and patching them year after year.

The plants and trees bear the likeness of the earth, the woven fabric close to the body, bringing one nearer to nature. Perhaps with eyes closed, one can envision the entire forest.