THE UPENDO PRINTERS

2018

By Standing Voice

August 16^th, 2018

Intricately carved blocks of Japanese plywood are soaked in bright paint and pressed onto canvas. In a burst of colour, the Upendo Printers reveal their authentic creations for the world of Ukerewe to see.

The Upendo Printers are a talented group of artists using relief-printing techniques to produce beautiful prints from carved wood. Established in 2017, the group has honed its creative potential under the expert guidance of visiting print artist Alex Booker, who has led the printmaking workshop in our Summer Skills Series for two consecutive years.

Alex is an acclaimed print artist whose work has been exhibited internationally. He runs the Booker Print House from his studio in London, where he explores the properties of ink and wood in an ongoing series of stunning experiments, often inspired by history, landscapes and the sea. For the last two years, Alex has delivered regular printmaking day sessions from his studio.

At this year’s Summer Skills Workshop, the printers consolidated and strengthened the skill set they developed in 2017, expanding their portfolio with a plethora of stunning new prints.

Like last year, Alex was delighted by the ability of his students with albinism, who excelled in their craft and appeared uninhibited by visual impairment: “I based the workshop on a model I’ve been teaching in London, tailoring it slightly to the needs of people with albinism. I was quite apprehensive about how visual impairment might interfere with the use of sharp tools and knives. Once we got going, I was surprised to find that no one seemed restricted. There were moments I had to help people, but nothing more than I would normally do in the UK!”

“The class was a mixture of people with and without albinism, but everyone was on the same playing field. Regardless of gender, ability or skin colour, everyone is equal in a workshop. Alex Booker

I’m continually amazed by how much talent is out there. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in you and inspire a sense of confidence.” Alex Booker

“It was beautiful watching everyone helping each other during the workshop, despite differences in age, colour or race.” Ramadhan Hajj (workshop translator)

“Whether celebratory or melancholy, the group’s art was deeply personal, born from the raw force of feeling. Some of the group’s most compelling prints were inspired by intimate parts of their lives: traumas, hardships, secrets, hopes; intersecting histories of families and communities. In that sense, printmaking became an opportunity to reflect on one’s life, to break down barriers and begin dialogue with one’s peers.” Alex Booker

“With the tools and materials I left behind—and the resources available at the recently refurbished Umoja Training Centre—I’m confident the Upendo Printers will have the facility to continue practising their craft in future, potentially for commercial gain. Their journey over the last two years has laid the foundations for that process.” Alex Booker