2010 symposium

What constitutes Printmaking in the 21st Century?

Professor Stephen Hoskins

I run the Centre for Fine Print Research in Bristol and most of our work concerns research into print process. About a third of what we do is collaborative with artists similar to the American studio model, a third is specifically about research, into historic processes from the 19th century, digital process and computational colour for creative artists. The final third is directly working with the industry, so we as a research centre do own every wide format printer you can think of, because every company gives them to us. However we do test them and try them for the industry but also use them to print for artists. Therefore I have a real interest in digital technology and one aspect that I think we shouldn’t confuse ourselves over, is the concept of where we come from as printmakers. We all use industrial technology - it might have been industrial technology in 1750 or it might have been industrial technology in 1960 but it still industrial technology, so there is going to be a problem.

Stephen's opening statement can be seen in its entirety here  as a pdf file.

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Jenny Roland's Opening Statement

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STEPHEN HOSKINS

Stephen Hoskins is Hewlett Packard Professor of Fine Print and Director of the Centre for Fine Print Research at the University of the West of England Bristol UK. Apart from being a practising printmaker, his primary areas of research are in the tactile surface of the printed artefact and its consequences for digital technology, plus the potential of rapid prototyping and digital technologies for the applied arts. His latest book entitled ‘Inks’ was published by A and C Black in September 2004 His previous book ‘Water Based Screenprinting,’ has been translated into German and Chinese.

Stephen is Chair of the IMPACT International conference for Printmaking, on the editorial board of the journal Printmaking Today, a council member of the Association of European Printing Museums and a Past Vice-President of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers.