Pop-Up Lithographic Studio at Semi-Permanent This Month

Photos by Olivia Laita

Press release

14 May 2013

Pop-Up Lithographic Studio at Semi-Permanent This Month

Auckland artists Askew One and Auckland Print Studio are collaborating to create a lithographic studio and print workshop at Aotea Centre.

The workshop will only be around for two days during Semi-Permanent Auckland on 31 May and 1 June, and will produce 60 lithographs to be displayed at the Aotea Centre and online.

Both Onehunga residents, artists Askew One and John Pusateri, director of APS, met while walking their dogs – and vowed one day to work on a project together.

Internet service provider, Orcon, is presenting the collaboration as part of its partnership with Semi Permanent, and its promise to ‘do something cool’ each year as part of the annual creative conference.

Askew has created two works 'Everything Is Dust 1 & 2', and worked with John to create two stone lithographic plates weighing 45 kg each.

The lithographic process was developed in the late 1700s, and sees artwork drawn on the surface of stone using a substance that repels water and attracts oil-based ink. The stone is inked, and then both the paper and stone feed through a roller. Lithos is the Greek word for stone.

The 60 prints will be created at Semi-Permanent, displayed and sold in a digital exhibition on http://www.askewone.bigcartel.com

Askew: “When I first spoke with John about the lithographic process I have to admit, I was in the dark about how incredible it is. At the image-making stage it is very intuitive and free, drawing on the stones directly is a really nice feeling and all the marks and detail translate really well. Watching the etching process and having John talk us through it as he works is really captivating. I'm really stoked to have this chance to share my journey through making a lithograph with a big audience and shed some light on the fantastic job John is doing in preserving and sharing this process.”

Says John: “Working with Askew has been exciting. I’ve been aware of his large mural work for some time, and I have always thought the work would translate well by being made in the lithographic medium. This Semi-Permanent project, with Orcon’s fantastic support, has been a great way to bring Askew to the studio where he has been able to work directly on the stones, creating multi-layered original lithographic prints, which we’re limiting to editions of 30. Askew’s compelling portrait work embraces and showcases the lithographic medium’s ability to produce dynamic tonal ranges with enticing, transparent overlays.”

Orcon’s Quentin Reade says: “We’re really pleased that we can help facilitate the creation of something interesting and inspiring in a public space. We’ve long been supporters of the creative industries, and being able to help bring Askew and John’s vision to life is fantastic.”

Last year Orcon commissioned M&C Saatchi and We Love Inc to create artwork using twitter controlled robots – which can be seen at youtube.com/orconchannel

B&F papers are also supporting the project, and are supplying Sensation 270gsm stock for the work.

www.semipermanent.com

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• Askew One is a multi-disciplinary artist mostly renowned for his graffiti art paintings. His indoor canvas works are influenced by double exposure photography, bold illustrative lines reflective of comic books and the graphic power of the letter.

• Elam and Syracuse University trained John Pusateri founded the Auckland Print Studio in 2008, specialising in stone lithography. His work features in many of the country’s top galleries, and when not working on artistic endeavours, John teaches at the Department of Architecture, Unitec.

• Back in Auckland for its ninth year, Semi-Permanent brings large doses of ideas and inspiration to the big smoke. Semi-Permanent combines speaker presentations, exhibitions and parties into a festival of creativity. It offers a refreshing, educational and inspiring look at the current state of the art and design world and is considered by creative people as a not to be missed event on the yearly creative calendar.

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