Hvað er jurtalitun?

This lunchtime lecture is presented in the spirit of VAKA Folk Arts Festival, taking place from 13-19 September. On this occasion, Guðrún Bjarnadóttir, natural scientist, entrepreneur, and author, will discuss the tradition of plant dyeing in Iceland.

In her talk, Guðrún will explore the history of plant dyeing in Iceland, the plants that have traditionally been used to produce dyes, and what this practice reveals about the relationship between people and nature.

Plant dyeing is an ancient method of extracting colors from plants, lichens, and other natural materials and is believed to have been practiced in Iceland since the Settlement Age. Before synthetic dyes became available, textile dyeing relied on an intimate knowledge of nature, the seasons, and the properties of different plants. Practitioners needed to understand plants, processing techniques, and mordants used to fix colors, making plant dyeing not only a craft but also a form of natural science. In this sense, plant dyers can be seen as the naturalists of their time, building their knowledge through observation, experimentation, and experience.

Guðrún's interest in plant dyeing began while researching her master's thesis on the use of grasses and wild plants in Iceland. During her studies, she came across historical sources describing dyeing with plants, sparking a long-term interest in the subject. Since then, she has researched and developed methods for reviving this traditional knowledge and today runs the plant dyeing studio Hespuhúsið. A prolific entrepreneur and author, Guðrún has written the book Grasnytjar á Íslandi (Useful Grasses and Plants in Iceland) and the booklet Jurtalitun á Íslandi (Plant Dyeing in Iceland), and is also the creator of the popular Bird and Flora Card Games published by Hespa.