What I learned from the experience
I am back from the beautiful city of Cadaqués, the extraordinary Miniprint Competition, my role as a member of the jury and my first solo exhibition. Many milestones in my artistic path… What happened and what did I learn?
Miniprint International of Cadaqués a well established competition
Miniprint International of Cadaqués has been running for 44 years and is described as ‘the most popular and longest running exhibition of miniprints in the world’ on its website. It takes place in Taller Galeria Fort in Cadaqués in Catalunya (Spain).
A weekly solo exhibition for each winning artist of the previous edition
The ADOGI, the non profit association running the competition, offers each winner the opportunity to present a week long solo exhibition during the next event. In 2023, I took part in the 43rd Miniprint Cadaques and had the joy of being chosen as one of the six winners with my linocut print Connection, inspired by the Iroise Bridge in Brittany, France. During the 2024 competition, I was thus invited to present 30 linocut prints in the area of the gallery dedicated to the solo shows.
During the winter 2023 - 2024 I worked hard to make many new prints for this event. I designed a new project, entitled ‘contemplations iodée’ to share my vision of the beautiful seascapes of Brittany in France. The series of colourful linocut mini prints I produced are reinterpretations of sketches made on location since 2020. You might recognise some of the heavenly places of the Côte des Abers area (and my beloved Aber Wrac'h).
If you have been following me for a while, you know that in my art, I try to convey the sense of awe I experience when immersed in nature, and the happiness I feel when being outside, especially on a bright summer day. How do I love a perfect blue sky! All the plate sizes are 10 x 10 cm and the paper size 18 x 18 cm. Some are multi-plates prints (usually four plates) and some are a combination of multi plates, puzzle and reduction prints. More about printmaking on the blog.
In doing so, I discovered last winter that I was able to work under pressure and meet a deadline. I had of course already worked under these kinds of conditions but it was the first time I had to produce a significant amount of news prints work in a condensed amount of time. One of the prints I made did not make it to Cadaqués because I do not like it very much… The others were part of the show and were well received by the visitors!
Jurying the 2024 miniprint competition
The ADOGI association proposes to the six winners of the previous year to be a member of the jury for the running competition. How to jury such a huge competition where, in 2024, 672 printmakers from 44 countries took part in the exhibition? As each contestant could send up to 4 prints the total amount of works received by the organisers approximates 2700…
In these pictures you can have an idea of the setup of the exhibition: 672 prints (one of each participant) are exhibited on the walls of the gallery. In addition to the prints hung on the walls, there are folders on shelves, where two other prints of each printmaker is available. You might wonder where the fourth print sent by the participants is… Well it is sent to Wingfield for the UK exhibition. As a matter of fact, Miniprint Cadaquès tours in Europe! All information is provided this page of website of the competition.
As far as I am concerned, the jurying process was quite long and exciting. It took me about 5 sessions of two hours to look with wonder and kindness at all the prints on the walls and browse the folders... I did learn quite a lot along the way... printmaking is diverse and so were the styles, techniques and inspirations represented. What a wonderful adventure for all the printmakers involved! I discovered which were my favourites was inspired to experiment some of them in the future…
The results will be proclaimed at the end of the exhibition when all the members of the jury have done their job and I am as impatient as you all to know who won this year!
Other more personal aspects of taking part in this event
In Cadaqués, I Was honoured to be welcomed by Mercedés Barberá and the ADOGI.
Here are a few pictures of the people working so hard as a team all year long to perpetuate the work of the founder of Miniprint International of Cadaqués, Pascual Fort. Staying into the Taller Galeria Fort alongside his press and his printmaking tools is very moving. I felt his absence and also his living presence in his studio space. The moment was not nostalgic. It was joyous, enthusiastic as well as life changing. I feel I grew up thanks to the simplicity and warmth of this community: thank you!
Miniprint International of Cadaques opened on the 29th of June 2024 is running until the 30th September, each day from 18.00 to 21.30.
More information:
Article from People of Print
Article from Hora Nova (in Catalan)
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