Cotton Stainer

Water-based paint on canvas, encased in a lightbox.
17.3cm x 17.3cm x 17.3cm
SGD 88 (each) / SGD 328 (a series of 4 artworks)

Cotton’s most hated pest is a cotton stainer. It transmits micro-organisms into the plant which, in turn, stains cotton into brown colour. Besides, it compromises the fibres and, as a result, cannot be spun into yarns. As we deliberately “stain” our yarns and fabric with desired colour, could we intentionally bio-engineer cotton stainers to dye cotton bolls into colours that we love, skipping the manual dyeing process?

However, be warned, nature has its own mind and temperament. The grandest of plans can be foiled by the smallest speck of dust or… a bug.