Symbolism and material memory
Coffee grounds reference domestic rituals and the cultural history of Turkish coffee. Applied as granular pigment, they introduce memory into the surface and create a tactile contrast to the fluidity of watercolor.
Coffee Grounds as Texture: Material Memory and Surface
How coffee grounds and plant extracts become tactile, atmospheric layers in Can Maden’s mixed media works, with insight into technique, symbolism, and preservation.
coffee groundstexturemixed mediamaterialscontemporary art
Application and stability
Grounds are fixed with archival mediums after drying to maintain texture without flaking. The resulting surface holds subtle relief that captures light, creating tonal variation as viewers move around the work.
Visual effects and atmospheric depth
The granular texture softens edges, diffuses light, and creates an earthy color range. This helps anchor abstract forms and gives each piece a sense of physical presence.
Frequently asked questions
Is coffee grounds pigment archival?
Yes. The studio stabilizes the material with archival binders and protective sealing to maintain surface integrity.
Why use everyday materials like coffee?
The material carries cultural memory and connects the work to lived rituals, giving the composition a grounded, human scale.