Blue Journey

Valuing the past and building the future, this year, the Bourgoin-Jallieu Museum celebrates its 90th year. Among the exciting events and renovations going on in celebration is a fascinating exhibition that will be running all summer.

Indigo, clothing and textiles from around the world invites visitors to travel to the four corners of the world, through everyday garments and costumes for special occasions. The exhibition explores the diverse uses and dying techniques for indigo - a seductive colour that has captivated people through the ages. This plant pigment, first discovered over 4,000 years ago, is decidedly timeless. It has been used to dye sumptuous silks and everyday denim and is a colour that is both antique and highly contemporary. In the history of textile dyeing, indigo occupies a prominent place.

Created by the collector Catherine Legrand, this exhibition takes you on a tour around the world - from Japan to France, going through China, India, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe - visitors will see how indigo is used in different places and cultures. The textiles on display take you on a “blue journey”, highlighting the great cultural significance indigo has in a variety of settings and demonstrating the skill of dyers around the world. The various techniques featured in the exhibition include batik (using wax to resist dye; a technique practise in India, Sri Lanka, China, South-East Asia, and West Africa), ikat (an pre-dyeing threads before weaving them into a pattern; practised in many locations), and shibori (a Japanese technique of using twisting and stitching to resist dye).

Until 17 November 2019, Musée de Bourgoin-Jallieu, 17 Rue Victor Hugo, 38300 Bourgoin-Jallieu, France

Blog post by Jessica Edney. Images courtesy of Catherine Legrand, Thames & Hudson.

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