South Africa has a rich history of print making which dates back to the first settlers in
the Cape and was primarily aimed at disseminating information from the mother continent to
the new settlers. Fast forward to the 60s when protest manifested itself in print as a
medium of communicating to the masses. The 60s saw an explosion of the print form
as many young printmakers were trained at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and
Craft Centre in Rorke’s Drift, leading to the development of what is unique
South African printmaking, merging social commentary and a truly localised aesthetic,
with broad appeal. Some notable figures from this school of printmaking being
John Muafangejo and Azaria Mbatha. Despite the closure of the Art and Craft Centre,
it’s legacy has continued with many of South Africa’s most prominent artists using the
print medium as part of their repertoire.
The inaugural PRINT 07 is organised and hosted by the Bell-Roberts Gallery @ Lourensford, in association with UCT’s Michaelis School of Fine Art, Stellenbosch University Visual Arts Department and Rhodes University Fine Art Department. PRINT 07 will take the form of an extensive educational print exhibition that celebrates the medium.
PRINT 07 presents three print portfolios, Working Proof, Spit II and Egazini Outreach Project’ in addition to showcasing the output of some of the leading printmaking studios in the country. In it’s effort to educate the uninitiated (and remind the initiated), the exhibition clearly examines the various processes of printmaking – Intaglio; Relief; Planographic as well as Screen Printing and will also explore how books and digital printing relate to the print medium – the exhibition presents an opportunity to showcase to the broader public some exceptional examples of print-making from South Africa. The exhibition also marks the beginning of preparations for an annual print conference and exhibition to be held on the picturesque Lourensford Wine Estate. Through this annual event, and our collaboration with the various educational institutions, we intend to celebrate the history of this medium and introduce it to a wider audience. More information on this initiative will be available on the day of the PRINT 07 opening.
PORTFOLIOS ON SHOW
Working Proof, Portfolio of Lithographs. Co-ordinated by Stephen Inggs.
The idea behind Working Proof was to produce a portfolio of lithographs to explore how artists could use and adapt commercial print technology. The portfolio, consisting of 10 contributions by staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Arts and other prominent artists and sets out to present a broad range of concepts with the intention of providing new ideas and approaches to contemporary printmaking.
SPIT II
The SPIT II print portfolio consists of twenty-eight contributions by the staff of the Visual Arts Department, University of Stellenbosch
EGAZINI OUTREACH PROJECT – Battle of Grahamstown Portfolio
Produced by Fineline Press at Rhodes University
PARTICIPATING PRINT WORKSHOPS
Artist Press Studio
David Krut Print Studio
SELECTED ARTISTS ON SHOW
Jane Alexander, Fritha Langerman, Stephen Inggs, Deborah Bell, Kevin Brand, Jane Eppel, Katherine Bull, Robert Hodgins, William Kentridge, Colbert Mashile, Sam Nhlengethwa, Lyndi Sales.
IMAGE
Sonder Titel - Untitled
Marthie Kaden, 2006
Lithograpic prints on BFK Rives paper
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