Black Current – 2/3 – Printing
Black Current show
Maison d’Art Bernard Anthonioz (MABA), Nogent sur Marne, France
September 10 – October 26, 2008
Curated by Etienne Bernard, in collaboration with the Festival de l’Affiche et du Graphisme de Chaumont
After several technical trials with reproduction methods, I decided to intersect a selection of images from the Smith-Lesouëf library with my own stock of contemporary vernacular imagery.
To be more precise: enlarging the A4 photocopies from the libary books to the same size as my A0 colour separations made for previous projects. And next, finding a way to combine all images in as many variations possible following a printing script.
What I was looking for is called serendipity, beautiful combinations created by chance. Those delicate greys in one of the more succesfull prints, for example, where the handcut halftones of the historical elements intertwine with parts printed in opaque white. You know it’s there when it’s there…
Detail @ 100%
Because of the (semi transparent) qualities of opaque white ink, there’s no way you can preview this in PhotoShop. It’s an organic process of trial and error. You know something good is happening while you’re doing it…
Detail @ 100%
Sketches for the show’s title, plus other typographic parts.
One of the many beautifully paper marbling patterns found in the SL library: a useful graphic ingredient for the invitation cards and other prints.
Snailmailed invitation card, front.
Leaving the cleaning to Julie van Severen, my handy-assistant-for-one-day with a smile!