Proposal Abstract

I would like to present The Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź as an important centre of research in printmaking and an institution encouraging international artistic projects, such as ‘International Summer Courses — Printmaking and Textile Art (PATA)’, multidisciplinary exhibitions, conferences and printmaking symposia.

The academy is a state institution of higher education in the third largest Polish city of Łódź. Each year, about 1,500 students study different disciplines of fine art and design here.

In summer, artists, students and art lovers from all over the world come to Łódź to participate in our summer courses. As the initiator and coordinator of seven editions of PATA, I can say that the project has become an important platform of cooperation between artists representing different cultures and education. The aim of research at PATA is to encourage the interplay between printmaking and other art disciplines, especially textile art, which has a strong tradition in Łódź. Therefore, the programme of the courses includes textile art, textile print, handmade paper and conceptual art.

Well recognised teachers of our Academy and guest foreign artists are invited to conduct the courses. They include Yuji Kobayashi, Jose Guillen Ramon, Kestutis Vasiliunas, Alicia Candiani, Renata Papista and Marilene Oliver.

Other international projects include the printmaking symposia at the International Artistic Centre KAUS Urbino, Pure Print conferences organised by prof. Graciela Machado from Porto and Carmo Chiado and ‘Heart of Darkness’—a project coordinated by prof. Jose Quaresma from the Lisbon University. We participate in this project each year since 2013, realising prints inspired by works of literature, and organising exhibitions and print conferences with professors and students from different Academies in Europe, Brazil, South Africa and Australia. Exchange exhibitions of print and textile art were organised with Valdosta State University in the USA and with Alberta University in Canada.

All these projects encouraged international cultural exchange and allowed us to explore new possibilities in old and new technologies.