Reviving Craft with Science: A Study in Slime Mold Dye Techniques

• Hanna Saito

  Contemporary artist, Doctoral student at the Kakehi Laboratory, The University of Tokyo.

  Contemporary artist. Born in 1988. After graduating from the Glass Course in the Department of Crafts at Tama Art University, she joined metaPhorest, a biological/biomedia art platform, and began working in the field of bio art. Since 2019, she has been enrolled in the Master’s Program at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo (Kakehi Laboratory).

  She creates works using techniques from scientific glassmaking, as well as through the use of biological materials, organic matter, and image analysis, while also engaging in academic research. In recent years, she has been collecting and cultivating multiple species of wild slime molds, incorporating them into both her artistic and research practices.

  Her main themes include rethinking the boundaries between nature and society, humans and non-humans, and exploring the inseparability of the artist and the subject of expression.

  Contemporary artist. Born in 1988. After graduating from the Glass Course in the Department of Crafts at Tama Art University, she joined metaPhorest, a biological/biomedia art platform, and began working in the field of bio art. Since 2019, she has been enrolled in the Master’s Program at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo (Kakehi Laboratory).

  She creates works using techniques from scientific glassmaking, as well as through the use of biological materials, organic matter, and image analysis, while also engaging in academic research. In recent years, she has been collecting and cultivating multiple species of wild slime molds, incorporating them into both her artistic and research practices.

  Her main themes include rethinking the boundaries between nature and society, humans and non-humans, and exploring the inseparability of the artist and the subject of expression.

• Kazuhisa Kitagawa

  Director of the Research and Development Department, Tanaka Nao Dye Shop Co., Ltd.

  Born in 1974 in Wakayama City. Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology and joined Tanaka Nao Dye Shop Co., Ltd. Assigned to the Research and Development Department, where he has been involved in product development, quality control, and preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Currently serves as Director of the Research and Development Department at Tanaka Nao Dye Shop Co., Ltd.

  Born in 1974 in Wakayama City. Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology and joined Tanaka Nao Dye Shop Co., Ltd. Assigned to the Research and Development Department, where he has been involved in product development, quality control, and preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Currently serves as Director of the Research and Development Department at Tanaka Nao Dye Shop Co., Ltd.

• Misaki Shiozu

  Textile dyeing artist

  Graduated from the International Fashion Department, Stage Costume Design Course at Bunka Gakuen University. While working part-time at a vegetable shop, she began experimenting with extracting dyes from discarded vegetable scraps. In 2021, she relocated to Hokuto City, where she now lives in a mountain village at an altitude of 1,000 meters. There, she conducts experimental dyeing using foraged plants, natural dyes from around the world, and materials such as iron rust.

  Graduated from the International Fashion Department, Stage Costume Design Course at Bunka Gakuen University. While working part-time at a vegetable shop, she began experimenting with extracting dyes from discarded vegetable scraps. In 2021, she relocated to Hokuto City, where she now lives in a mountain village at an altitude of 1,000 meters. There, she conducts experimental dyeing using foraged plants, natural dyes from around the world, and materials such as iron rust.

• Nami Urano

  SPCS / Loftwork Inc.

  After graduating from university, Nami joined Loftwork, where she was involved in planning and organizing business events at the Shibuya office, as well as managing industry-academia collaboration communities between Japanese companies and overseas universities. In 2020, she helped launch and manage the COUNTERPOINT residency program at FabCafe Kyoto. She is also actively engaged in articulating the activities of FabCafe’s global network and cultivating a foundation for inter-location collaboration. Since 2022, she has been responsible for launching and managing SPCS (“Species”), a community that explores the uncontrollability of nature. Her formative experiences include studying social security systems in university, learning about Denmark’s folk high schools, living in a kibbutz in Israel, and co-hosting a fermentation club with chef Momoyo Morimoto. These experiences have sparked her interest in creating chaos within spaces, cultivating environments that embrace complexity and spontaneity.

  After graduating from university, Nami joined Loftwork, where she was involved in planning and organizing business events at the Shibuya office, as well as managing industry-academia collaboration communities between Japanese companies and overseas universities. In 2020, she helped launch and manage the COUNTERPOINT residency program at FabCafe Kyoto. She is also actively engaged in articulating the activities of FabCafe’s global network and cultivating a foundation for inter-location collaboration. Since 2022, she has been responsible for launching and managing SPCS (“Species”), a community that explores the uncontrollability of nature. Her formative experiences include studying social security systems in university, learning about Denmark’s folk high schools, living in a kibbutz in Israel, and co-hosting a fermentation club with chef Momoyo Morimoto. These experiences have sparked her interest in creating chaos within spaces, cultivating environments that embrace complexity and spontaneity.

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• FabCafe Global Editorial Team

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  This articles is edited by FabCafe Global.

  Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on this article with us.
  → Contact us