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New Collection
Printmaking Vol.1
February - April 2021
Curated by Danielle and Hannah Rothmann
Curator's Commentary.
The curators have chosen a few of their favourite pieces from the show, read on to find out what they particularly enjoyed.
Hannah Rothmann
Yeong’s print ‘Washing Rice for Dinner’ captures a moment in time. The details and shading make the
image come alive and give an intimate feel; the viewer is involved in the action taking place in the print. I found this print really striking as currently the rituals of everyday life have become even more important, especially as we are all staying at home. Tasks such as cooking, cleaning and eating, at least for me, demarcate my day and my time. It prevents the days becoming monotonous. Yeong has made the print personal to her life but it still speaks to all of us.
This playful piece corresponds with exactly how I am feeling in this third lockdown. In a time when everything can get quite serious and intense it is important to find levity. Williams does this through his use of text to create a dialogue with the viewer. I am sure we all have times when we turn inwards and wish our brains would stop thinking and stressing about a million things. This print, I feel, is a reflection of that.
Al Tai is cleverly critiquing aspects of our society that are problematic while still incorporating playful elements. The snake appearing on the left of the print reminds me of the Garden of Adam and Eve except here the femme is in the centre, taking control. She is controlling the narrative in this print as she looks down at her ‘bush’ with the binoculars. It feels both light-hearted and serious. Moreover, the play between dark and light in this picture adds, for me, an otherworldly feel.
The movement of this piece is the first thing I noticed. It draws you in, just as the bright colours and the joy on the subject’s face also capture your attention. It feels like a private moment shared with the viewer and reminds me of time of celebration and dance. There is a sense of freedom conveyed through the print and this is always appealing.
Danielle Rothmann
I have always enjoyed the ethereal quality of Morgan’s work. She has skilfully combined screen printing with lino printing and creates a balanced composition which offsets the eerie blue forms of the foreground with a vivid yellowness behind. Although we cannot understand the nature of the anthropomorphic figure which seems to spring through the composition, I find a sense of calm when contemplating this work.
For me, this work encapsulates the feeling of being stacked in between neighbours in an old tenement flat. Each building has a similar feeling, but is still ultimately unique, using the striking contrast of black ink on white paper to shape each form. This large-scale print is bustling and lively, but still maintains an appealing sense of structure within the chaos.
‘Looters’ is one of Akhtar’s current works discussing anti-imperialism. This work is rephrasing the narrative of glorified colonisers taking lands. I love the dialogue between the materials with each element playing off the others, even the paper she uses is rooted in a colonial past. Her use of gold leaf to create the title ‘Looters’ subtly reminds the viewer of the liberties taken by colonising forces. Akhtar has created a daring and visually appealing work that also presents a much-needed reality of Imperialist Europe.
I thoroughly enjoy the energy Moock captured in this lino print, carving lively curving lines which squiggle across the paper. The cyclist is caught moments before cycling through the traffic light, and on towards an unknown destination. This monochromatic work feels like a true reflection of the motion and chaos of Camden town, translating the feeling of movement into a work of art.
I really like Duke Pratt’s style of print making, the overall finish of this work looks slightly rougher, with a bit more noise coming from the lino plate. Duke Pratt’s simple use of line is striking against the solid blue background and helps to give them a sculptural feel. The faces, while not overly detailed, still convey the emotion of the artist to the viewer, while the swirling details on the heads are evocative of the mischief the title alludes too. Their two heads turn in what seems to be a contemplative state, perhaps captured in a moment of quiet reflection as they deal with the emotions that are taking up their thoughts.
Hannah Rothmann
Hannah Rothmann, B. 1999. She is currently in her fourth and final year at the University of Edinburgh studying Classics. Outside of her degree, she is one of two Arts and Culture editors for the Rattlecap, a student publication. In this role she is able to share views, both hers and others, on the important role art plays in all our lives as well as profiles on artists themselves. This has included a piece on Zanele Muholi and their recent exhibition at the Tate. For her, art gives an insight into another world, another perspective and, importantly during covid lockdowns, an escape.
Danielle Rothmann
Dani Rothmann, B. 1999, She is undertaking an MA in Fine Art at the Edinburgh College of art, specialising in sculpture and printmaking. Through her degree she studies art history alongside her practical art. Her most recent prints have been predominantly reduction lino prints, featuring subjects of the everyday that surround her.
