The Application of Natural Dyes from Local Plants in Creating Value for Contemporary Visual Arts and Creative Crafts

Abstract

This applied research investigates the use of natural dyes derived from local plants to enhance the value of contemporary visual arts and creative crafts in Yala Province, a region distinguished by its strong artistic and craft-making heritage. Employing a workshop-based action research approach, the study comprised three phases: surveying and documenting local knowledge of dye-yielding plants; conducting dye-extraction experiments using various mordants to analyze chromatic behavior—including intensity, brightness, dispersion, and fastness; and applying the dyes within two practitioner groups, namely visual artists and creative craft makers. The findings indicate that materials such as red earth, sappanwood, red paperbark, mangosteen peel, Indian almond leaves, and indigo generate diverse tonal ranges, with mordants exerting a significant influence on color properties and durability. Visual artists successfully developed natural pigment powder, expanding the applicability of natural dyes beyond textiles to painting, surface design, and material-based art forms, presenting opportunities for creative-industry innovation. In the craft sector, natural dye applications on textiles and local materials such as Krajood (grey sedge) produced prototypes with soft, organic tones that embody Yala’s cultural identity and support environmentally responsible production. The study contributes empirical knowledge on plant–color–application relationships and demonstrates how natural dyes can bridge traditional wisdom and contemporary design, yielding new forms of cultural expression while fostering sustainable economic, cultural, and environmental value for communities in Thailand’s southern border region.