Proposal Abstract

In order to examine the establishment of a collaborative community within Splitgraphic—a contemporary printmaking biennial in Split, Croatia—during the last 15 years, I shall assume an organisational point of view here. Splitgraphic biennial is a valuable example of how contemporary art biennial functions in practice by constantly being concerned with the future of printmaking, new styles and techniques through collaborations with artists and other printmaking events. Splitgraphic questions how to present styles and techniques in printmaking today in the set form of a biennial exhibition. While these concerns appeared in 2003, Splitgraphic—today in its ninth running edition—is still establishing and putting together various diverse approaches of printmaking. My topic of presentation refers to the fact that, especially since 2013, Splitgraphic has been dealing with the idea of its own sustainability as an event, while at the same time striving to explore the sustainability of graphic art as a medium. Sustainability of the event is achieved by constant organisational changes, which reinvent the ideas behind the traditional form of the biennial, collaborations, selection of works and curators. To achieve sustainability, Splitgraphic has embarked on numerous collaborations with international artists and curators whether at home in Split or abroad. I will present examples of exhibitions, works, artists and concepts that Splitgraphic has considered while retaining an interest and respect for traditional printmaking techniques and introducing new ones. We presented established artists, but also emphasised student work as the future of printmaking. This paper will touch upon the building of an international network of relationships and collaborations with artists and biennials, triennials and graphic centres important for Splitgraphic, which stems from a small European country. Changes and collaborations are imminent for Splitgraphic in order to remain as the only international event in our community. In 2020, Splitgraphic is still welcoming collaborations and changes that come with it.