Layers over layers

Graphic designers, illustrators and photographers are among the 12 artists pooling their talents together for “An Original by the Originals”, a new exhibition of screen-printed works showing at Jam Factory through June 8.

A collaborative effort by Bangkok-based printing studio the Archivist, Studio STH and the Jam Factory, the show focuses on hand-made images using screen-printing techniques that allow viewers to see the artists’ thinking processes layer by layer.

 “We at the Archivist and our friends want to showcase screen printing images and bring together creative people and collectors. We also want to pass on knowledge to the general public through our workshops during the exhibition, to add value to the contemporary printing field in Thailand. Each of the participating artists represents originality from various angles, and printing itself is an original art form, because the small details are always different, creating multiple originals. When the pieces are layered, it creates a mixed media that is an original art in itself,” says Minchaya Chayosumrit, the studio’s co-founder.

“The exhibition aims to raise questions about originality, because each of the hand-printed pieces is technically an original piece of work. It is further enhanced by the artist, and when the two seemingly identical pieces are showcased together, you will see originality in a different light, presented through the ideas of printers and artists,” she adds.

“The working process begins with artists bringing their original works – an illustration, photo, paper work or so on, then creating a new version of that art form using screen printing techniques. We then ask the artist to create yet another piece using a copy of their screen printing work and that gives us another original artwork.”

The 12 artists taking part in the show are graphic designer Santi Lawrachawee of Practical Design Studio, Teeranop Wangsillapakun of TNOP Design, illustrator and artist Jirayu Kooamornpattana, street artist and graphic designer Jackkrit Anantakul, paper sculpture artist and illustrator Kanitta Meechubot, illustrator and traveller Suthipa Kamyam, May Waikittipong of Pianissimo Press, photographer and musician Duen Chongmankong, Pimm Chongcharoen of Teaspoon Studio, Vuttiphong Mahasamut, Jarut Janpraphanont and Minchaya herself.

Santi’s piece, “Memorandum of Understanding 052015001”, is a three-colour screen print that showcases his photograph of the Chao Phraya River. 

“I wanted to create the movement of the river so I screened a set of different layers. In order to make a perfect piece, we used about 120 screens. I’ve collated them into another original – a book of art. These two pieces truly represent the challenge of screen printing and reflect not only the relationship between lives and rivers, but also my personal journey in creating them,” he says. “To me every art medium has an equal value and it is up to the artist how to produce it most interestingly.”

Collage artist Jirayu says that her first screen printing art piece “Clouds of June” cut a new path for her in terms of style. She’s adapted her previous artwork, which highlights the intricate patterns of marble, for a second piece.

“My style of paper cutting and collage is under my control but I’ve found screen printing lots of fun,” she enthuses.

Pimm of Teaspoon Studio is a rising paper art creator and her pieces, “Live Ingredients”, reflect who she is. 

“There are symbols of life that tell who you are as well as ones that are hidden inside you. I used transparent ink on the screen printing, to find out what was written. The viewer has to use a small torch to see. This is a very difficult artwork but very enjoyable and original,” Pimm says.

The “Tik Toh” by street artist Jackkrit Anantakul also shows the distinctive technique of screen printing, says Minchaya. 

“The original is a simple street-style character in three colours. But when we did the screen printing, we used only two-colour screen prints (pink and blue) and printed colour on colour to create the new colour. That give us purple too but the challenge continued until we finally we had the art piece in a fluorescent colour,” she adds. 

“This makes screen-printing art fun. As we use only one prepared screen, the layers have been overlapped over and over again to create the new print. The difficulty lies in carefully diluting the colour since the result is so unpredictable.”

 

IN THE PINK

“An Original by the Originals” runs until June 8 at the Jam Factory on Khlong San Road.

 Learn to make your own screen-printed art at workshops every Saturday throughout May. --Saturday: “Cut and Paste on Screen, Making Your Own Masterpiece” by Kanitta Meechubot”

May 23: “Try a Little Impression”, mini-letterpress print workshop by Pianissimo Press

May 30: “Pineapple Lamp” by Teaspoon Studio All run from 2 to 4.30pm but only 15 seats are available each time so reservations are a must. The fee ranges from Bt1,500 to Bt2,800 depending on topic. Call Wun at (084) 066 4960 or e-mail workshop@|thearchivist.com.

n Find out more at www.TheArchivist.com.