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INDIGO

from seed to pigment and paper 


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Le Grand Bleu


sustainable art project



Le Grand Bleu is inspired by world culture and ancient craftsmanship, brought into a contemporary context. One of the early influences was Delft's blauw ceramics—its vibrant pigments, delicate ornaments, and crackled glazes that create layered textures and emotional depth.

In this project, I use the traditional Japanese Shibori technique with indigo and ink on different papers—washi, calligraphy, recycled, and even 300-year-old* handmade Japanese sheets. By layering semi-transparent paper, I explore the possibility of creating the deepest blue—a symbol of the endless sky and the deepest ocean. These artworks are like windows into other worlds, inviting viewers to imagine their own stories.

Since 2016, I’ve been growing indigo myself and extracting the pigment through traditional fermentation. This direct connection—from seed to color—is central to the project’s sustainable philosophy and adds an intimate, personal dimension to the work.

The sky and the ocean unite us—we all breathe the same air and live on one blue planet. Le Grand Bleu is a tribute to that unity: expressive, powerful, and deeply human.

Some paintings were donated to the Amsterdam Dinner 2017 to support the fight against AIDS—completing the moon cycle of the project, from inspiration to giving back.


* I received 300-year-old paper pieces from Peter Poldervaart (1943–2019), who told me, “Valentin, I’ve kept these papers for so many years. Don’t keep them—use them!”
Peter was the head of the paper restoration atelier at the Rijksmuseum for 27 years. I visited his atelier several times, where we bonded over our shared love for paper. From him, I learned various techniques for working with handmade papers and glues, often guided by his illustrated books from his studies in Japan. I was even fortunate enough to drink water from the spring. Thank you, Peter.
























art bakard 
Running on Cargo