Hong Kong Graphics Art Fiesta 2010: Convergence/Divergence: An International Prints Exchange Exhibition

Resulting from collaboration between Hong Kong Open Print Workshop founded in 2000 and The Art Promotion Office, Department of Leisure and Cultural Services, based at The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, this event was the second of its kind to be hosted in the city. Involving 24 workshops the event showcased 300 prints by 195 artists from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, UK and the USA. The resulting exhibition presented a fascinating insight into contemporary concerns, thematic and cultural as well as more pragmatic matters of media, technique and format.

Master Printer Paul Croft was one of three artists invited to participate at the week of events - symposium, talks and workshops planned to coincide with the opening of the exhibition at Hong Kong City Hall. Croft also curated prints by ten artists to represent Aberystwyth School of Art and Aberystwyth Printmakers at the event. For the catalogue essay - Positivity in an Age of Doubt: A Time for Reflection – significantly Croft reflects upon the current status and popularity of printmaking in the UK – just at the time when there is increasing economic uncertainty and approaching austerity.

Research into different processes of transfer lithography, including The Multiple Monoprint: Monoprint Transfer using Positive Photoplates was presented at a collaborative workshop at Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre on 18 December 2010

Involvement with this event subsequently led to 10 students from the School of Art participating in the Hong Kong Art Fiesta 2011 Xin Y Dai and one of our MA students – Gini Wade being invited out to Hong Kong to conduct a workshop in plate lithography. In 2012 Croft was invited to participate in the Hong Kong Art Fair and since then there has been some correspondence concerning the establishment of a formal exchange between Hong Kong Open Workshop, The School of Art and Aberystwyth Arts Centre.