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Mark Attwood in the print studio of The Artists’ Press. -
Rugby by Anton Kannemeyer, seven-colour lithograph, 45,5 cm x 48 cm, edition size 35, R5 600. -
Aloe isaloensis by Sibonelo Chiliza, seven-colour lithograph, 62,5 x 50,5 cm, edition size 35, R3 350. -
Tribute to Ephraim Ngatane by Sam Nhlengethwa, 11-colour lithograph, 49,5 x 69 cm, edition size 50, R9 930. -
A fine weave by Hanneke Benadé, single colour chine collé lithograph, 70 cm x 53 cm, edition size 15, R6 500. -
Mirror by Claudette Schreuders, three-colour lithograph, 59,5 x 23 cm, edition size 45, R10 600.
WORDS Ami Kapilevich
Not all art forms are created equal. Lithography involves weeks of collaborative effort in order to produce hand-printed limited-edition prints. The Artists’ Press in White River, Mpumalanga has been in the business for 25 years.
Mark Attwood’s father Bruce was a printer who worked with, among others, the artists Walter Battiss and Norman Catherine, but he paid the bills by printing commercial products such as books and posters.
Mark decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. After completing his apprenticeship, though, he chose to focus on the fine art side of lithography and printing. This year, Mark’s The Artists’ Press celebrates its 25th anniversary.
It’s a small printing business that employs only four people, but this suits the artistic process, because it is such a highly iterative one. Artists spend an average of two weeks drawing on stones or plates and creating a series of proofs that they will hone until they are satisfied with the final product. Once that is done, a series of 20 to 50 prints is made and the original stones or plates are destroyed.
“Hand printing is special, because the artist is integrally involved in the creation of the print,” says Mark. “The artist is not using technology; he or she is drawing directly onto the stone or plate. There are tactile possibilities: embossing, heavy inking. And the printing becomes part of this process.”
The artists’ methods and approaches vary. Botanical artist Sibonelo Chiliza will work in a trance-like state, spending nine pain-staking hours a day for up to a week to create detailed, immaculate drawings. Others spontaneously conjure finished pieces in a matter of minutes.
“Our role,” says Mark, “is to facilitate the natural approach of each artist. It’s very satisfying to work with artists who love the process. The late Robert Hodgins was a regular – we worked with him annually, sometimes twice a year – and he was humble, entertaining and knowledgeable. And Sam Nhlengethwa loves the print process, so we work with him a lot.”
Here’s to the next 25 years of a very special corner of South Africa’s artistic landscape.
*The prices of artworks in the gallery do not contain VAT.
