Diving into the lost art

Printmaking is one of the primitive forms of art that has been witnessed. With the advent of modern art forms like murals, frescos and artists switching to online platforms and social media to display their work that led to the fading away of printmaking as an art form making it forgotten.

In order  bring the lost art back to its former glory, a solo art exhibition is recently being organized at the India International Centre displaying the works of Joel Rendón. The exhibition is in collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico.

The exhibition showcases his print work using various traditional and contemporary techniques in black and white, as well as in colour. Along with the traditional motifs shown such as snakes, skulls, rituals and gods and goddesses from Mexican history, which were observed in some of his prints.

His works combine the longstanding Mexican tradition of relief print, contemporary techniques and motives linked to the cultural heritage of the country. Considered one of the most outstanding engravers in Mexico, he devoted his life to generate a movement to revalue engraving in Mexico and abroad.

The Mexican traditions revolve around and honour the circle of life and death. The skull and the snakes are testimony to it. The snake in the Mexican culture signifies impermanence meaning a state of lasting for a limited period of time. While, the skull also means impermanence, on the other hand, it also signifies freedom and transition.

“Joel Rendón is one of our most respected engravers in Mexico. He has worked for several years in promoting print making as a form of art.

He is technically very strong and also chooses and treats Mexican traditional motifs in all his work”, says Santiago Ruy, Head of Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in India later adding that the works combine the best of artistic technique and Mexican history and tradition.

With printmaking being one of the primitive art forms but has somehow with time faded away. When asked about whether printmaking has made its place back into the art world or not, he expresses, “I think it hasn’t. I think it is still an ongoing battle because there are other types of art. I think the principle issue is that we are moving into a digital world.” He later points out that Joel apart from being an artist played the role of an activist in order to generate awareness on printmaking.

On being asked about if printmaking has been lost or not, he replies, “I think it never went. But with the digitial world, it is a struggle. I think with print exhibitions and making people aware about printmakers and printmaking will open more spaces for printmakers to show this kind of art.”

The underlying message of this exhibition is about showcasing an artist who compiles modernism and traditionality along with keeping in mind the tribal community of a nation.

One of the common elements observed in the collection was a representation of tribal communities. He says, “In Mexico, there has been a very important change where there are artists who are linked to traditional techniques.”