SELEKTORI 10. SPLITGRAPHIC BIJENALA SU:
INGRID LEDENT (BELGIJA)
Ingrid Ledent studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, the UMPRUM in Prague and the National Higher Institute Antwerp where she obtained her MFA in printmaking in 1981.
From 1984 till 2020 she was professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. Since September 2017 she is distinguished professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.
She gave lectures at many international institutions and conferences. She gave workshops in lithography at the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts, 2017(Poland), the Musashino Art University in Tokyo, 2016 (Japan), the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, 2016 (China), the University of Alberta in Edmonton, 2016 (Canada), the Indiana University in Bloomington, 2015 (USA), the E. Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wroclav , 2015 (Poland)
Her work has been exhibited worldwide in over 20 solo exhibitions and many group exhibitions.
She received national and international awards in the field of printmaking including the Grand Prix at the 3rd International Triennial in Prague 2001, Grand Prix at the 8th International Biennial of Drawing and Graphic Arts Györ 2005, Grand Prix at the 5th International Lithographic Symposium 2006 in Tidaholm, Grand Prix at the International Print Triennial Krakow 2006, Grand Prix at the 5th Splitgraphic International Biennial 2011, Grand Prix at the Imprint International Triennial in Warsaw 2014 and an award at the Guanlan International Print Biennial in 2007 and 2017.
She is chairman of the International Adviser Board of IPOA (International Printmaking Organisation Alliance) based in Guanlan, China.
INGRID LEDENT STATEMENT:
Today, the endless possibilities of graphic techniques, from the oldest to digital solutions, indicate the many directions within which artists can express their individual perception.
Contemporary graphic art undergoes constant transformations prompted by the increasing importance of technology and its influence on culture, society and the individuals.
I do feel great affinity with works in which the artist use analogue techniques of printing with material matrices and combine these with images constructed in a virtual environment. New techniques, Impressive installations, digital prints, video, audio, large-scale linocuts and lithos, three dimensional objects, … All of them reflecting the diverse possibilities of contemporary printmaking.
Nevertheless, technique stays inferior to the content and artistic appearance of an artwork. The mastery of the technical aspects of the process does not automatically guarantee the creation of a piece of art but it is, certainly, a necessary tool. Technique is not the aim, but a medium to create artistic expressions.
The 10th edition of the Splitgraphic Biennial will take place in the newly renovated City Hall located in the beautiful old city centre of Split.
With a view to the availability of space and technical equipment to display all works in an optimal manner, the organisers preferred to have no large-scale works or complex installations.
That’s why my selection does not reflects the complete panorama of contemporary printmaking but I hope that it showcases a diversity of creative personalities that use print media as foundation of their narratives
And I do hope that the exhibition will be interesting not only for the artistic circles, but also to the wider public, as an example of the extraordinary possibilities and achievements of contemporary graphic art, as well as a priceless artistic reflection on our world.
I like to congratulate Pavo Majic and Marina Petit with this jubilee and thank them very much for their many years of affection for the graphic arts and their drive and commitment to keep this printmaking event going.
YOSHIO IMAMURA (JAPAN)
Education
1991 Atelier Contrpoint (Paris, France)
1997 Japanese Government Oversea Study Programme for Artists (Paris, France)
Japan Print Association member
2011 Assilah Art museum (Morocco) Residence Invited Artist
2013 Korean Printmaking International Residence Invited Artist
2017 Guanlan Original printmaking Base, Shenzhen,China Invited Artist
International Awards
1989 Miniature Print Biennial New York Purchase Award
Bharat Bhavan International Biennial Special Award
1998 International Mini Print Exhibition in LAHTI FINLAND Special Award
2000 Mimi Print International CADAQUES Grand prix Award
2007 Pacific Rim International Exhibition Special Award
2010 International Graphic Art Biennial Split Special Award
2011 The16th SPACE International Print Biennial Seoul Purchase Award
2017 International Graphic Art Biennial Split Grand prize
2019 International Print Biennial Guanlan Honour Award
YOSHIO IMAMURA STATEMENT:
My work is being created with the theme of life, death and time with the motives of weed and of flowers. This is the sensitivity of the Japanese beauty.
In my selection I relied on the wonderful authors who don’t participate in biennials too much. I respect the artists who originally produce in their respective countries. The big authors who represent Japan are included, too.
SPLITGRAPHIC BIENNIAL (Pavo Majić & Marina Petit)
