Robert Hughes, a world-renowned art critic, once compared printmaking to learning to play Ping Pong backwards in a mirror with a time lapse.
From Nov. 4 to Nov. 8, Zavitz gallery held an exhibition true to Hughes’ words. A selection of 27 individually chosen works from students who were enrolled in Introductory Printmaking and Intaglio Printmaking at the University of Guelph were displayed in the exhibition, PING PONG.
The works presented the audience with an overwhelming presence of personal, meaningful, romantic, and aesthetically pleasing prints. These works, placed in an organized manner, filled the gallery space in a way that could have fooled anyone into believing that there were only 25 works in the gallery. From wall to wall, the visual entertainment seemed to be endless through use of figures, colours, subject matter and contrast within the prints.
Though the visual aspects are what first engaged the mind when first walking into the gallery, the titles of the works also offered a personal level of engagement with the art. Titles such as “Tapestry of Love,” “Dedicated This to You,” “As I Recall It,” and “Impressions” are just a few of many that spoke to the viewers about the young artists emotions and thoughts.
Some artists presented statements about their works to the audience that provided notions of romantic ideals and meaningful personal relations that exist or existed in their lives.
“I explored my relationship with farming and my familial identity,” said Jordon Perndersen about his work, “Impressions.”
“By leaving the farming traditions I am left with a void, yet the impact that has already been left is crucial to my identity. Exploring hoof prints as both a negative, positive, and documented impression highlights the complexity and evolution of relationship with the farming tradition.”
Frances Botden, creator of “As I Recall It,” stated, “I’m trying to negotiate where my home is and what my family’s history means to means to me by investigating memory and precious objects.”
Of her piece “Untitled,” Olivia Simpson stated, “It’s probably something to do with love.”
Cassandra Koch’s work, “Notions” presented a powerful message that would touch the emotions and thoughts of any individual who has suffered and lost someone dear to them.
Koch stated, “My grandmother was an avid sewer and was always collecting buttons, whether it was buying them or salvaging them from old unwanted shirts. Grandma had a stroke several years ago and suffers from dementia. When I go visit, she has no recollection of who I am, yet I get the feeling she knows I’m familiar. Like my grandmother’s memory, there is only a trace left behind; a notion of what used to be.”
Lean Shabaga, creator of the first piece in the show, “Untitled 1,” stated, “I have been focusing on my ancestry; exploring, in detail, objects which have been passed down to me by my family.”
Overall, the two classes from the University of Guelph’s Fine Art department provided a superb exhibition that showed the passion, love, and motivation of the students to create print works. This show demonstrated an immense amount of talent, and the show was an exhibition to which true print makers could look at and feel proud of the new generation.