A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to see and take part in a really interesting session of experimental printmaking. Along with my colleague Brian Voce, I watched as Dave Bramston and South Korean Designer Mi Young Jang turned large-scale MDF ‘plates’ into bold, fabulous prints on paper and fabrics.
The plates were created using an innovative method. An industrial router was mounted within the skin of a Vauxhall Corsa car door, before being guided across the surface of the MDF. The results were intriguing – channels were cut into the surface of the MDF to a set depth, controlled by moving the router/door assembly.
The bare plate block (unlinked) was placed on the work surface and the material to be printed was taped to prevent any movement. Then, ink was rolled across the paper, making sure that it moved over the block face and its edges. We experimented with black, red and yellow, but other colours where created in the areas of overlap. In an extension of the technique, designer Mi Young Jang has used used found objects such as salvaged car doors, a skateboard and a Hello Kitty tray to help print, amongst other items, beautiful flowing silk scarves. She will be showing a fashion collection to be seen on the streets of Guangzhou in July 2016.
Continuing Dave Bramston’s long standing connections and collaborations in China, he will soon be taking the experimental technique to many locations across the country, sharing it with art and design students and their tutors.
The project is an extension of worked conducted by Dave Bramston in Xuzhou, China.
For me, the whole afternoon was an inspiration. It confirmed how important it is to keep experimenting – something that I’ll try to keep doing within my own practice.
MDF surface marked by router, prior to printing
Dave Bramston (right) preparing the ink roller
Mi Young Jang (left) and Brian Voce
Colour combinations obtained by multiple ink rolling
Dave Bramston is leader of the MAIDE programme (MA International Design Enterprise) at the University of Lincoln, and founded the Sorrell Foundation National Art & Design Saturday Club within the College of Arts.
Links:
Dave Bramston
https://twitter.com/davidbramston
http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/dbramston
Mi Young Jang
http://designspiration.net/jangmiy92/b/