International Printmaking Symposium Series

Overview

Printmaking has not been in the spotlight of the contemporary art world for a while, but The Elam International Printmaking Workshop (EIPW 2015) is helping bring this craft back into focus. The discipline of printmaking encompasses a diverse number of labour-intensive techniques, such as etching, lithography, silkscreen printing and woodcuts. Perhaps that's why we haven't seen much printmaking lately—it's a process-driven art form that requires planning and craftsmanship. It's not exactly glamorous, but the results can be arresting. Thankfully, there has been an increase in interest in recent times, with digital means combining with more traditional tools to help the discipline develop.

The EIPW 2015 has brought a number of international artists to New Zealand. They will spend a couple of weeks at the Elam printing studios, making artwork to be exhibited at the Gus Fisher Gallery throughout February. You can also attend a number talks and learn about the practice from the artists themselves.

The next talk coming up is presented by Mark Harris and Michael Barnes. Mark Harris works with print, collage and sculpture to repurpose vintage photographs to explore architectural utopias. Michael Barnes takes a sardonic look at human civilisation, creating a world of warped creatures and strange mechanisms. I highly recommend taking shelter from the blistering midday sunshine to see some art and learn something new. The full schedule is available here.

Image: Continuous Movement—Range 1 by Mark Harris. Silkscreen 60 x 40cm, edition of 20, 2013