As part of the programme of events supporting our current exhibition ‘Revolution, Propaganda, Art: Printmaking in Modern China’ (12 October 2022 to 3 June 2023) Dr. Anne Farrer’s illustrated talk will introduce us to the fascinating world of reduction printing.
This ground breaking technique, known as “waste-block” printing (jueban yinfa), was introduced into China in the 1970s. Reduction printing enables artists to create, in different stages, polychrome prints from a single block. This approach differed from the traditional multiblock colour print technique in which different blocks were created for each colour. Many well-known print artists, including He Kun and Hao Ping whose work features in our exhibition, have used reduction printing to create fine and highly textured prints.
Whether you are a seasoned printmaker or have a more general interest in this topic, this illustrated talk will offer a comprehensive introduction to this technique and its history in China.
Image © Hao Ping (b. 1952), Holy Field Series: Understanding. 1998. Reduction print, oil-based inks on paper. Muban Educational Trust.
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