On January 26, at 5:00 p.m., the Korsaks` Museum will host the opening of an exhibition of works by students of the Department of Graphic Design of the Lviv National Academy of Arts “Estamp”
Stamping is primarily work with a matrix. Stamping is impossible without a matrix. Linoleum, metal, plastic, cutters, needles… Of course, today there are technologies that do not require traditional tools, but actually working with a matrix and a press creates a certain magic. We take good paper, moisten it, then dry it. We hammer paint into the matrix, under the pressure of the press, the matrix enters the paper — this is a completely different field, a different state. To use an analogy with literature, painting is like novels, while graphics are more like short stories.
In 1994, the Lviv National Academy of Arts first established a department and then a department of industrial graphics, today it is a department of graphic design. From the very beginning, a printmaking workshop was organized at 23 Virmenska Street. The first head of the department, Bohdan Soroka, was especially active. He looked for machine tools and other equipment, worked together with students. At first, linocuts were performed – black and white and color. From some time they began to study etching on metal. Monotype and dry needle techniques were gradually introduced. Dry needling was quite expensive, the number of students was large, it was difficult to work with metal, so we switched to a more environmentally friendly material – plexiglass. Now this material is used all over the world and the results are simply fantastic. Subsequently, a combination of digital printing with classical techniques was introduced. With the development of graphic design, the interest of students began to shift from traditional tools to the computer room. It was necessary to find a connection between the computer and classical graphics. These were free topics so that students could feel more comfortable in the new format.
Today, we combine classic graphics with design in the form of art books, which include illustrations on any topic in various techniques combined with font graphics.
Students who come to the workshop on Armenska note a peculiar creative aura that reigns there. It is the smell of printing ink, traditional tools and machines of the 19th century. All this has a positive effect on the perception of the educational process. If in the first year the main task of the teacher is to give the students the opportunity to master the technical aspects, then already in the second year many reveal themselves and demonstrate excellent results.
If in the first year the main task of the teacher is to give the students the opportunity to master the technical aspects, then already in the second year many reveal themselves and demonstrate excellent results. We try to minimally interfere in their work, not to drive student creativity and potential into some framework. We are happy when everyone is different in their vision and nature of perception. After all, diversity is one of the elements of creativity.
Bohdan Pikulytskyi
Associate Professor of the Department of Graphic Design
Lviv National Academy of Arts,
Honored Artist of Ukraine
