Imprint at Craft Central was a celebration of print in all its forms. It showed that print can be more than just ink on paper – and it also showed that ink on paper can be pretty impressive in its own right. Even the poster (designed by Turnbull Grey) impressed with on-trend neon orange and grey and a gorgeous printerly quality.
Showing right from the off that print has a role across design disciplines was Kethi Copeland’s collaboration with Dosmaquinas Monterrey: the Amsterdam Printed Chair. I loved the fact that it was suspended from the ceiling at a jaunty angle as if to highlight just how 3D it was!
Printed textiles were represented by Laura Slater’s hand screen printed cushions. I loved the effect of the ink on the relatively loose weave of the linen.
One of the real highlights of the exhibition for me was Janet Stahelin Edmondson’s vases. She uses lace to print into the surface of porcelain before it dries. It was really inspirational and thought-provoking to see the curators pushing the boundaries of what’s defined as print.
But none of that was to neglect some good old fashioned ink and paper executed with aplomb. Thornback & Peel’s gorgeous Stag and Dots print is another example of LDF13’s hottest color combination: neon orange and grey.
I found Hannah Victoria Locker’s prints really interesting – she overlaid two sheets of opaque ‘trugrain,’ each with a different pattern, so the idea of printing colors in layers was taken even further than in traditional screen printing.
Marby & Elm’s letterpress Sing With Me print is an example of printing on found materials and lovely play on the old music sheet they’ve used.
Finally, on the left is Joanna Ham’s newest work developed especially for the show – and on the right, I loved the color and texture in Katy Binks’ abstract prints.
Our trip to the London Design Festival was supported by Airbnb.com.
