OMU’s “İZ Printmaking Exhibition” brings art beyond the campus

Works produced by students and academics of the Department of Fine Arts Education at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) have been brought together in the “İZ Printmaking Exhibition.” The title, İz, a Turkish word meaning “trace,” “mark,” or “impression,” evokes the very essence of printmaking, where images are created through the transfer of a visual imprint onto a surface. Showcasing works created in the Original Printmaking Studio, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to explore a diverse range of contemporary printmaking practices while reflecting the lasting artistic traces left by the creative process.

The exhibition features works created over the past two years in the Original Printmaking Studio of the Department of Art Education under the coordination of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selma Karaahmet Balcı. The collection includes selected pieces produced by undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, as well as academic staff.

Hosted at the Yalı Exhibition Hall of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, the exhibition aims to extend beyond the university campus and engage directly with the wider community, showcasing different disciplines and techniques within the field of printmaking.

A special selection from undergraduate and graduate studies

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selma Karaahmet Balcı stated that the exhibition consists of a special selection of works produced by students at doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate levels.

Emphasizing that printmaking is an art form requiring specialized equipment, Balcı said:

“In Samsun, printmaking is carried out using various press machines only in the workshop of the Faculty of Education. That is why we particularly wanted to organize this exhibition in the city center and bring it beyond the boundaries of the university.”

One hundred works showcasing diverse printmaking techniques

Balcı noted that visitors can view approximately 100 different works in the exhibition.

“There are a variety of materials used in different printmaking techniques. In this exhibition, visitors can see relief, intaglio, and planographic printing methods. In relief printing, there are woodcut plates carved by our students. In intaglio printing, there are mainly metal engravings and zinc plates that we carve and print using ink retained in the recessed areas. The exhibition also includes various works created using the Tetra Pak printmaking technique,” she explained.

Sustainability and artistic experimentation

Highlighting the importance of sustainability and recycling in the creative process, Balcı added:

“You can also see stencil prints produced through planographic printing methods. The exhibition features numerous works created in both color and black-and-white using different techniques. In fact, this exhibition can be considered part of a series. We previously exhibited works by former students in Samsun and Sinop. We now plan to continue this series in other cities. This is the first exhibition produced with this particular group, and we are currently working on plans for the next one in Ordu. Most likely, the second exhibition will be held there.”

The İZ Printmaking Exhibition will remain open to visitors until 8 June.