“Indigo,” photos by Burcu Avsar, styling by Helen Quinn (All rights reserved. Photos used with permission of the artist.)
I’ve been gathering indigo images for a while now. But I wanted to wait until these stunning photos by Burcu Avsar and Helen Quinn were published. Part of a longer series which I discovered through Sri Threads, these visually stunning photos show the color of “intuition and spiritual knowledge” in all its glory. (For the complete set, click here.)
The “oldest of dyes,” indigo is a powerful color with a rich and varied history. The icon of kings, it has adorned the mummies of Egypt and Machu Picchu. The color of mystics, it is seen as a symbol of spiritual enlightenment. And yet this ocean blue is also favored by peasants in Japan, where mended boro cloths have been raised to an art. With origins in India, this midnight blue has colored the rugs of Ancient Persia, as well as the inks of Ancient China. It has been donned by cultures as far-flung as the Tauregs of the Sahara or the Nahuatl of Guatemala. As exotic as the Far East, this denim hue is also as American as apple pie.
Indigo is also a color for every season. Reminiscent of the seas and skies, it is the preferred color of summer in the Mediterranean and Japan. Lighter shades are as fresh as spring blue bells, while icier ones conjure winter’s chill. Especially when paired with amber tones, inky indigo can also echo the berries of fall.
All these connotations mean that indigo is many different things to many different people. Deep and complex, its beauty is derived not only from the richness of its hues, but from the wealth of memories it elicits and the breadth of emotions it evokes.
More from “Indigo” by Burcu Avsar and Helen Quinn.
“Indigo” by Burcu Avsar and Helen Quinn.
“Indigo” by Burcu Avsar and Helen Quinn.
Indigo Mist Dress at BHLDN; “Untitled Noren,” 2006 by Rowland Ricketts
my photo of green tea at Aunt Sheila’s
Sheila’s photo featuring her indigo runner from Japan
above photo from “Used Materials” by Anouk B Interiors; Tembea indigo bags; RISD living room, interior design by Sheila Narusawa Architects, photo by me
Japanese Omoto knifes photographed by Kimberly Wu at UU
above: Les Indiennes indigo Ikat cloth, “Long Life”; joker dress by Eatable of Many Orders; Arabia Valencia plate, photo by Jennifer at Vintage Scapes
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Not sure if comments from a husband carry as much weight, but still I wanted to comment that this is splendidly presented, made more interesting by your laying in the historical context. Like so many of your blogs, wonderful…
They carry MORE weight! Thank you, Hon.
To me, this is the best collection of indigo images I’ve seen out there. Well done! The photo of your aunt shiela’s table reminds me to pull out my indigo items and actually use them.
Gorgeous indigo, love the blue colour, and should go back to dye some of my fabrics this way.