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Hidden Diatom Artist Book, 2016

Irene Rogan (UK) and
Rauma Printmakers

Collaboration 2015-2016.

Rauma Printmakers

Rogan_ja_RTG_Piilevakirjat_1_k_HelmiPauniaho.jpgPicture Helmi Pauniaho

Rogan_HeliVaisanen_print1_etchingaquatint_2015.jpgHeli Väisänen, etching-aquatint, 2015.

Rogan_Piilevia_Irene_ja_Katariina__kuvaKirsiKuu_2015.jpgIrene and Katariina collecting water samples from Raumariver just down the street from the Printmakers Studio.

Artist Book project based on microscope images of both sea- and freshwater diatoms between Rauma Printmakers and Irene Rogan from Nottingham UK.

The Artists Book of 15 hand bound pieces has been published. The book includes 2 prints from every artist, introduction text by Irene Rogan and a text about diatoms by a water researcher Tri. Mary-Ann Tiffany (USA). The artists involved are Mari Aspola, Kirsi Kuusisto, Katariina Mannio, Arja Nummi, Meri Pauniaho and Heli Väisänen

The Hidden Diatoms book will be exhibited in Printmakers Associations 40th Anniversary Exhibition at the Rauma Art Museum in October 2016 and at Emil Cedercreutz Museum in Harjavalta during the spring 2017. Books can be bought from the Printmakers Studio, Kuninkaankatu 44, with 550 €.

RaumArs artist Irene Rogan visited Rauma Printmakers Studio in Old Rauma, (UNESCO World Heritage Site) May 20th 2015, during her stay at the RaumArs residency, in order to discuss a co-operation of some kind. At first she showed us her own work and other projects involving diatoms then we told her a little about our Studio in Old Rauma and the active group of printmakers in Rauma. The project started with an idea of a colouring book but as soon as Irene saw the variety of our different printmaking techniques the concept began to form into a limited edition of hand bound set of prints, an Artist book.

We set two dates on collecting the water samples and looking through the microscope together with Irene. Irene guided us through the whole process from picking the samples and handling them into using the microscope and recognizing and taking pictures of our “own diatoms”. Mari Aspola then organized a microscope for us from a local biology teacher. Now we had the opportunity to collect our own water samples and look at them whenever we wanted to. The group of participating artists then had an idea about getting each their own samples from different sea- and fresh water places throughout the Rauma region. For example: Raumanjoki, Otanlahti, Mustalahti, Maanpää, Kuuskajaskari and Eurajoki.

The process of printmaking began from these modest amateur images. The printmakers then let their artistic interpretation take over and guide them through. It was truly an adventure for us to use this kind of material as a starting point to our own artistic processes. Each artist has their own technique in printmaking and ways of using colours and paper. Etching, aquatint, woodcut, linocut and cardboard printing just to mention some of our techniques.

Supported by Arts Council of England, RTG (Rauman Taidegraafikot/Rauma Printmakers) and RaumArs

On behalf of the Finnish artists involved,

Katariina Mannio
BA, Printmaker

Resartis Taike Rauma Erkki Paasikiven säätiö Vakka-suomen nuorisosäätiö WEB_lastenkulttuuri-vinonelio-oranssi.png Rauman Taidemuseo Suomen Kulttuurirahasto