In a world driven by speed and outcomes, this hands-on workshop offers a gentle yet radical alternative: a return to presence, touch, and process.
Led by Joyce-Fangyu Zhang, founder of Bridge Indigo, this four-hour immersive experience introduces participants to the ancient Chinese art of batik ”là rǎn” and natural indigo dyeing, rooted in the craft traditions of Southwest China.
But more than just a craft session, this is a mindful ritual a space to slow down, reconnect with your hands, and rediscover the quiet power of creating with intention. No prior artistic experience is needed just an openness to explore and experiment. The focus is on process, not perfection. Join us!
What is Là Rân 蜡染 (Chinese Batik)?
Chinese Batik hidden deep in the misty mountains of southwest China, là rân is one of the country’s oldest and most poetic textile arts, dating back to 207 BC. At its heart, batik is the art of drawing with wax on fabric.
Special wax knife and molten wax is being used to sketch designs directly onto cloth – to draw intricate patterns in wax, dip the cloth in dye, and then remove the wax to reveal crisp, two-tone designs. No stencils. No guides. Only the patterns of imagination passed from generation to generation in shades of blue that define batik’s signature contrast.
The use of fermented indigo leaves (no synthetic additives), preserving water and soil health makes it all environmental friendly and sustainable.
Bridge Indigo
The Bridge Indigo approach rests on four principles that transform simple textile techniques into profound experiences of coming home to ourselves.
- Disconnect to connect
- Express more with less
- Embrace textility
- Harmonize with slowness
Bridge Indigo draws from Southwest China’s “là rǎn” tradition, where generations of artisans have perfected the delicate dance between wax, fabric, and dye. But Joyce’s approach extends far beyond historical recreation. Her background in psychology and trauma work infuses each workshop with understanding of how creative practice can support emotional healing and community connection.
“The workshops offer a multi-sensory journey. People experience the hush of guided meditation, the whisper of molten wax, the earthy aroma of indigo vats, and the hum of shared presence.”
This integration of mindfulness with traditional craft creates what she calls “an ecosystem of self-knowing and collective belonging.” Participants often discover that working with natural materials and ancient techniques offers healing that words alone might miss.
What is Indigo Workshop?
- Experience an ancient art form
- Connect to the environment and the art’s origins
- Regulate stress through guided creative flow
- Enjoy a meditative, sensory-rich process
- Create your own wearable artpiece
- Engage in cross-cultural appreciation
Joyce-Fangyu Zhang
She is a multidisciplinary artist, psychologist, and cultural facilitator whose work centers around traditional Chinese craft practices especially batik (là rǎn) and natural indigo dyeing as tools for mindfulness, healing, and community building. This philosophy grows from Joyce’s own journey between worlds. Born in China, now making her home in Berlin, she understands what it means to maintain cultural connections while navigating the demands of modern life. Joyce-Fangyu Zhang has discovered something profound: these aren’t craft techniques at all. They’re practices of presence, rituals of return, ways of being that our modern world has forgotten. She’s weaving ancient wisdom together with contemporary psychology, inviting us to discover what happens when we stop chasing results and start embracing process.
“This will be my third time doing this workshop in Europe. I did the first one in berlin and second one in spain. Will trial a new format this 3rd time in Berlin. I am definitely manifesting for more occasions. So there will be opportunities to participate in the future!”
Fangyu Joyce
What is Indigo?
Indigo is one of the oldest plant dyes in existence, dated to 6000 years ago. Extracted from the leaves of Indigofera plants—an ancient crop cultivated across Asia, Africa, and the Americas for millennia. When we dip our fabric, exposure to air oxidizes the dye, unveiling that signature deep, living blue—each dip deepens the hue. 100% plant-based, biodegradable, and water-saving (up to 98% less than conventional dyes), it embodies eco-responsibility in every hue. The slow, layered dipping process teaches us to embrace process over outcome. Each shade is a moment of calm acceptance.
Workshop Schedule
Place: Kunstraum Heartspace, Danziger Straße 172, 10407 Berlin
Price: 45 € (early bird) / 55 € (regular) / 35 € (discount only to 4.08)
All materials are provided but you can bring a piece of textile that you would like to dye or give new life to! It must consist of 100% natural material for the indigo dye to stick to it, for example, 100% cotton, linnen, or silk.
14:00 – 15:00 Intro & Meditation
15:00 – 17:00 Guided Batick Practice
17:00 – 18:00 Indigo Dyeing
18:00 till late Debrief: What practices can we bring home to continue nurturing our creativity?
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