Interested in the art of printmaking? Then, head to the next edition of Sunday Art Park on May 7 at Sculpture Garden, where 31 printmakers from the State will demonstrate this rarely witnessed art form.
The artists, including Alka Chavda, Ashmita Mondal, Champa Mohan, Sanju Johnson, and Arnab Basu, will share techniques and mediums they use while making prints. Well-known artists Chandranath Acharya and J.M.S. Mani will talk on printmaking.
Printmaking not just involves creativity, but also a deft hand to etch or carve on wood, metal or any other material. The oil-based ink is spread through rollers and transferred to sheets of paper or other material. Common types of mediums include blocks of wood, metal plates of copper or zinc for engraving or etching; stone, aluminium, polymer or litho stone for lithography; linoleum for linocuts; and screens made of silk or synthetic fabrics for screen printing, explains Jayakumar G. Reddy, Head of Department of Visual Arts, Bangalore University, who is part of the organising committee for Art Park.
“Printmaking is just like painting drawing and sculpture. The traditional medium has been in vogue from the Renaissance, when religious texts and photos were extensively done in this medium,” says renowned artist S.G. Vasudev, who conceptualised Art Parks in 2014 as a way to involve the public in arts. It is a specialised medium and artists getting together to create 31 art works in a single day will be rare, he adds.
The best thing about printmaking is its democratic leaning, say experts. “Once the original art work is etched on a medium, the ink is spread for hundreds of copies and the process yields only ‘original prints’ with no copies to dilute the essence,” Mr. Jayakumar says.
Art Park was conceived with the idea that people need not step into galleries to see and buy originals. This week’s event upholds this idea in totality, where every piece of work (prints) will be original, Mr. Vasudev says.
Artist Ravikumar Kashi said printmaking has a heritage value as it traces a method devised nearly three to four centuries ago in Europe. “Multiple copies emerge using a technology that is worth witnessing for its deft handling. On Sunday, people can witness and try their hand at this time-consuming art carved out of a wood block,” he says.
