An exploratory study on the aesthetic potential of natural fiber waste composites for printmaking matrix in artistic practice

This research explores the potential of natural fiber waste composites as an alternative material for printmaking matrix within artistic practice. Grounded in artistic experimentation and material exploration, the study investigates how locally available agricultural by-products, sawdust, pineapple peel, sugarcane fiber (bagasse) and coconut coir, can be repurposed into functional composite matrix using an epoxy-based formulation. By integrating semi-scientific laboratory procedures with studio-based printmaking practice, the research evaluates the composites’ physical structure, surface texture and print quality in both relief and hybrid techniques. The investigation unfolds in three phases: (RO1) material formulation and physical testing, (RO2) creative experimentation and aesthetic evaluation and (RO3) reflective synthesis on the material’s expressive and artistic viability. While natural fiber composites have been widely examined in industrial contexts, their potential as printmaking matrix in artistic practice remains largely unexplored. This project addresses that gap by developing and accessing new composite matrix that merge scientific rigour with creative inquiry and tactile sensitivity. Conducted in collaboration with the Polymer Department at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the study adopts a practice-based and interdisciplinary approach that bridges material science with artistic research. The findings reveal that natural fiber waste composites exhibit distinctive tactile, visual and tonal characteristics, offering rich textural depth, subtle variations in mark-making and printing effects unattainable through conventional materials such as wood or linoleum. Beyond technical performance, the study positions these composites as catalysts for artistic exploration, expanding the expressive vocabulary of printmaking and reinforcing the relationship between material, process and artistic intent within contemporary artistic practice.