Introduction
Frans Masereel was an outstanding printmaker and pacifist. Born in 1889, this wonderful man with a passion for life, learning and humanity, left a strong impression on the world of printmaking. As a WWI objector he was expelled from Belgium and went to live in Geneva. Perhaps this was fate for it led him into an extensive life of publications that suited his passion for books, his talent as a wood block artists and lithographer and his political commitment. On his death in 1972, the Minister for Dutch Language Culture honoured him by founding the Frans Masereel Centre in Kasterlee.
My first year there was in 2002. Not knowing quite what to expect or how much work I would accomplish in 3 weeks I chose the subject portraits and a manageable plate size of 25 x 20 cm. I hoped that the project would be flexible enough to incorporate new directions which might come to me from being in a different country and studio. I took with me both zinc and plexiglass plates, my tools and a series of reference sketches. The paper I purchased in Antwerp. The finished project My children / Mes enfants et moi / Mijn kinderen en ik was a portfolio of 8 etchings printed in 2 colour plates each in editions of 10 and was perfect for accomplishing in the 16 day period.
In the following years I became more adventurous and made woodblook prints 70 x 50 cm. In 2006 I worked on the collaborative project Anaesthesia with two Belgium artists, Luce and Colette Cleeren.
January 2005 was the fourth year that the 3 of us worked during the same time at Frans Masereel Centrum. In previous years we had exchanged ideas and information and observed each others printing techniques. We had developed a warm friendship and a good working relationship so we decided that next January we would collaborate on a project. The title Anaesthesia - unconscious, unaware, floating, dreaming, absence od sensation, insensibility to pain, without physical sensation - created in our minds a collection of images.
The Project
Having ordered 100 sheets of paper in advance delivered to FMC, we each arrived with a basic idea and matrix-one etching plate, one woodblock and one sheet of plexiglass. Using one of the printing techniques we each made 33 prints. These 3 sets of prints become the basis for our editions. We added chine-collé prints, cut-out woodblock shapes, etching plates and litho prints. Each process was preceded with a discussion on where the images should be placed and in what colour and by whom. The final result was 3 editions of 32 prints 57.5 x 76.5 cm on Somerset radiant white 250 gram, titled Anaesthesia I, Anaesthesia II, Anaesthesia III. Later that year the work was selected for the Caixanova International Engraving Biennial.
Masereel encouraged the practical application and sharing of knowledge between artists and countries. So it is not surprising that artist return year after year when friendships are formed and information willingly shared in the spirit intended
Luce www.luceart.tk
Colette Cleeren www.colettecleeren.fotopic.net
Anaesthesia I, Anaesthesia II and Anaesthesia
