Some of the world’s greatest artists have used paper etchings to create masterful prints. Thanks to a new exhibition now Abu Dhabi will experience the process firsthand.
Visit an art exhibition and you can expect to see paintings, sculptures, even video art. But one compelling medium – printmaking – is often overlooked. Fortunately, N2N Gallery in Emirates Palace will be celebrating paper etching by welcoming Ukrainian artist Oksana Stratiychuk from December 3-8.
Paper etching is a type of printmaking that uses acid to etch a drawing onto a metal plate. The artist applies ink to the engraved plate then wipes the plate clean, leaving the ink only in the areas that have been scored by the acid. The plate is then placed face down onto a sheet of paper, run through a printing press and carefully peeled off to reveal a mirror image print.
Originating from the practice of Arabian sword engraving, the technique of paper etching began around the late 15th century in Germany. Artists at the time had grown tired of the rigidity of engraving the long linear strokes they were accustomed to, so they developed a chemical process that would allow for more fluid imagery in their work.
Paper etching quickly gained popularity across Europe, and in the 17th century, Dutch artists such as Rembrandt van Rijn embraced the medium. Rembrandt worked extensively with paper etching, creating hundreds of masterpieces – many using handmade Japanese paper. To this day, artists all over the world follow virtually the same process employed by Rembrandt centuries ago.
One standout practitioner is Ukrainian artist Oksana Stratiychuk, whose exhibition entitled Autumn will be arriving in Abu Dhabi this month.
Born in Kyiv in the Ukraine in the late 1960s, Oksana graduated from the Kyiv State Art Institute’s graphic art department in 1992 and went on to complete a Masters in Fine Arts from the Ukrainian Academy of Arts in 1995.
‘I’m inspired by the world of things and flowers; I look for my subjects in everyday life, in the beauty of simple things. For me this is the theme and the motivation for creation,’ says Stratiychuk.
Over the past 25 years, Oksana has participated in a number of shows and exhibitions, including the International Print Triennial in Kochi, Japan, and the Eleventh Biennale of Graphic Art in Kaliningrad, Russia. Oksana’s etchings feature colourful still lifes and often include human figures and wildlife. In honour of her visit to the UAE, Oksana has created etchings depicting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – which are sure to be a highlight of her show.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Oksana will perform paper etching demonstrations on each day of the exhibition from 4pm-9pm, using an authentic etching machine.
Elina Vitanen from N2N Gallery says, ‘By bringing the antique etching machine that is used in today’s process on site, N2N Gallery is looking to show the public the details and complexity of this medium, to raise their knowledge and appreciation of the art form.’
While the finished product may look effortless and elegant, creating a paper etching is a long process that takes years of practice and experience. The gallery’s demonstrations will show the time it takes to complete each piece of work. The artist has control over every factor of the process – making the finished pieces unique.
Paper etchings, unlike drawings or paintings, possess a rich tonal quality as a result of the ink being applied to the entire plate and then rubbed off. Additionally, whereas drawings and paintings can blend colour and shade to create texture or depth, paper etchings are restricted within lines. This parameter requires the artist to carefully manipulate each line to define the dimensions of the picture.
Another characteristic of printmaking is that there can be more than one original. Printmakers tend to work in series ranging from one or two to a maximum of 100, depending on the type of plate used. Usually each edition indicates which number it is in the sequence. As prints are each inked by hand, every edition is unique. Artists will often scratch out the design from the plate after they have finished the series in order to preserve the exclusivity of the collection.
The exhibition and demonstration are free, the works are available to buy starting from Dhs1,100. December 3-8, 10am-1pm, 5pm-9pm. N2N Gallery, Showroom 4 and 5, Emirates Palace www.n2n-gallery.com
(02 690 8929).
Oksana’s process
Preparation
•A copper plate is covered with an even coat of wax-like resin.
•While the coating dries, the composition of the piece is planned by sketching the image on paper with a pencil.
•Once the plate is dry, special etching needles are used to carve the drawing into the wax. The needles remove only the layer of resin, exposing the copper underneath, allowing for a high degree of detail in the subject matter because of the ease with which the needle carves the wax.
•When the drawing is finished, the plate is plunged into an acid bath where the exposed metal is slowly eaten away, causing the drawing to be permanently engraved in the metal plate.
•The waxy coating is then removed from the copper plate so it is ready to transfer prints.
Printing
•For each reproduction, the plate is covered in ink which is then vigorously rubbed away so only the grooves retain the colour.
•A piece of handmade paper that has been soaked in water is carefully placed on top of the plate and is then run through a giant press.
•The paper is gently separated from the plate, revealing a print.
•The plate can then be used to create another print by cleaning off the remaining ink and repeating the printing process again.
