Pigments and preservation: Enhancing colour intensity and durability on raffia as support/ground in painting using epoxy resin

Abstract

Woven raffia, a fibrous mat made by interlacing strands from raffia palm leaves and traditionally used for crafts, textiles, and decorative purposes, has gained popularity in its deployment as ground/support in painting. Extant studies on raffia have hinged on the woven composite obtained, chemical and microwave treatments to improve raffia, the craft of raffia weaving and its socioeconomic significance, amongst others. However, little empirical research has examined the effectiveness of epoxy resin as a preservation and aesthetic enhancement medium for woven raffia used as a painting support. The study investigates how epoxy resin affects the durability, aesthetic quality, and suitability of woven raffia as a support for contemporary painting. Using a practice-led studio methodology, five woven-raffia artworks: Silence, The Hustle Continues, African Woman, Being a Woman, and Instrument of Seduction, were produced and treated with epoxy resin and car paint. Their aesthetic qualities and resistance to environmental deterioration were observed and documented over a specified period. Findings suggest that epoxy resin and car paint are instrumental in preserving the stability of pigment-woven raffia when used as ground/support. Epoxy resin preserves woven raffia, provides a glossy finish and protects it from weather and pests, thereby ensuring durability, while car paint enhances texture quality more than acrylic or oil paints. Wood preservatives such as DDVP do not work over lengthy periods of damp storage due to fungus growth, too. The study contributes to current art material research by showing that epoxy-treated woven raffia might be a durable and culturally meaningful alternative painting support.