Jill Ho-You - Rapture, 2008; etching, mixed media
"BEYOND PRINTMAKING: Images in Objects Experimental Printmaking in Western Canada"
was presented recently in association with the International Print Triennale Kraków-Poznań 2009. The exhibition offered a snapshot view of various artistic trends in studio and experimental printmaking in both Alberta and Western Canada through the work of 8 experimental print artists: Karen Dugas, Marjan Eggermont, Alexandra Haeseker, Liz Ingram, Davida Kidd, William Laing, Ewa Tarsia, and Jill Ho-You. This group of contemporary Canadian artists relies less on the technical guidelines of the printmaking process. They instead focus more on the message in their work, or on art as an object. "Beyond Printmaking" offers a wide panorama of philosophical, stylistic, conceptual, and formalistic directions of printmaking, with various approaches to the materials and techniques used, including new digital technologies. Technically, all of the works in this exhibition are "prints", although not in the traditional sense. Instead, each artist has implemented some aspect of traditional printmaking process but has moved beyond these boundaries to create elaborate, labour-intensive, stratified images which engage the viewer's interest and emotions. Most importantly, the eight Western artists in this exhibition dared to challenge the traditional understanding and function of print art, thus elevating contemporary printmaking of this region to national and international prominence.
See the website below for the full press release and images.was presented recently in association with the International Print Triennale Kraków-Poznań 2009. The exhibition offered a snapshot view of various artistic trends in studio and experimental printmaking in both Alberta and Western Canada through the work of 8 experimental print artists: Karen Dugas, Marjan Eggermont, Alexandra Haeseker, Liz Ingram, Davida Kidd, William Laing, Ewa Tarsia, and Jill Ho-You. This group of contemporary Canadian artists relies less on the technical guidelines of the printmaking process. They instead focus more on the message in their work, or on art as an object. "Beyond Printmaking" offers a wide panorama of philosophical, stylistic, conceptual, and formalistic directions of printmaking, with various approaches to the materials and techniques used, including new digital technologies. Technically, all of the works in this exhibition are "prints", although not in the traditional sense. Instead, each artist has implemented some aspect of traditional printmaking process but has moved beyond these boundaries to create elaborate, labour-intensive, stratified images which engage the viewer's interest and emotions. Most importantly, the eight Western artists in this exhibition dared to challenge the traditional understanding and function of print art, thus elevating contemporary printmaking of this region to national and international prominence.
