CHETAK 17
CHETAK 17 : TRIBUTE
“Printmaking is an extension of the artist’s craftsmanship in a different discipline.
Like painting or other art forms, an original print encapsulates the artists’ individual expression, emotional range and aesthetic maturity. In addition, the art of printmaking embraces a wide range of perception into the process. The print medium facilitates as much flexibility and control to the artist as with painting. Printmaking is undoubtedly one of the major mediums practised by artists around the world today.”
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- Long Thien Shih in the catalogue Contacts In Prints: Why Printmaking? (1992)
Printmaking is highly regarded for its contributions to the art world. Despite general belief, this discipline does not only reside in institutional spheres but has from time to time grown under different governing bodies. One of the most prominent histories of printmaking is the founding of Atelier 17 in Paris, France in the 1920s. Instigated by S.W. Hayter and his group, Atelier 17 was the first printmaking establishment, an art school cum studio that has catapulted modern art printmaking through an exceptional approach. The core idea of gathering well-established artists and young talents to experiment with various printmaking techniques was well received, gaining an immediate reputation and was recognized as a world prestige establishment since its conception. Today, Atelier 17 is known as Atelier Contrepoint, helmed by the second principal Hector Saunier, who was directly mentored by the founder himself.
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Adding one of the young talents that had the opportunity to receive this high-level education from Atelier 17 was Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim. From 1976 until 1980, Abdul Mansoor was offered a scholarship to pursue education in France, having sparked an earlier interest in a specific printmaking technique which he discovered through a close friend that studied there. Recognizing the privilege to be under direct tutelage from S.W. Hayter, Abdul Mansoor studied the art of viscosity printing, an innovative technique devised by S.W. Hayter himself. It is a process of using a single plate and simultaneous layered inking to ascertain the level of viscosities of the mixed derivation.
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From a contemporary perspective, this technique is considered one of a kind, as it is not taught in any art institutions in Malaysia. The idea propagates that printmaking is not only a highly disciplined practice but involves a variety of styles that which is nearly impossible to practice in today’s institutional education hourly courses. Abdul Mansoor expressed that he had exclusively learned viscosity printing in the whole four years of residing there as a student-young artist. By and large, Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim is one of the many master printmakers that has consistently produced this form of art. In March 2023, he facilitated teaching viscosity printing techniques as a master printmaker at Chetak 17 under the program workshop, Tribute.
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Aptly named, Tribute is also an opportunity to exhibit the art of viscosity printing by master printmaker Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim. An oeuvre of works spanning close to half a decade by the artist will be featured not only as a retrospective of his art career but highlighting viscosity printing as an expertise that most local printmakers today have little knowledge of. The core idea of Chetak 17 for this exhibition, thus, is to gather master printmakers and young talents in printmaking in unveiling the vast potential of this discipline that can elevate the masses’ perception of its unique and rare practice. This exhibition hopes to continue the legacy of the master printmakers as an educational attempt not only at the institutional level but recognized in the region as well.
Artwork
Saluran Organik
Etching on paper
49 x 39.5 cm
1978
Edition of 5/30
Luna
Etching on paper
58.3 x 43.4cm
1979
Artist Proof
Loneliness in Mystery
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Etching, Engraving & Mezzotint on paper
58.8 x 43.2cm
1979
Artist Proof
Stuck
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Mezzotint & Engraving on paper
8.3 x 9.3cm
1980
Edition 34/60
Split
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Mezzotint & Engraving on paper
6 x 12.3cm
1979
Artist Proof
Untitled
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Engraving & Mezzotint on paper
17.5 x 23.6cm
1980
Edition 2/10
Untitled
Etching on paper
29.2 x 48.7cm
1980
Edition 3/12
Transition (Paris Series)
Etching on paper
39 x 29.5cm
1980
Artist Proof
City Scape
Etching on paper
22.8 x 19.5cm
1980
Artist Proof
3 Sequences
Etching on paper
29.5 x 39cm
1980
Artist Proof
Untitled
Collagraph on paper
13 x 19.5cm
1981
Trial Proof
Untitled
Collagraph on paper
14.9 x 14.2cm
1981
Artist Proof
Untitled
Collagraph on paper
10.2 x 8.7cm
1981
Artist Proof
Qulb
Etching on paper
27.6 x 20.1cm
2006
Edition 8/20
Untitled
Collagraph on paper
12 x 12cm
1981
Trial Proof
Cosmos
Etching on paper
28.6 X 20.4cm
2006
Artist Proof
Jawi 1
Etching on paper
24.8 x 19.5cm
2007
Edition 7/15
Janin
Etching on paper
23.3 x 15cm
2009
Edition 3/10
Senja
Etching & Engraving on paper
11.9 x 11.7cm
2010
Edition 20/22
JAWI III
Etching on paper
19.6 X 24cm
2008
Artist Proof
Hakisan
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Etching on paper
15.7 x 10.5cm
2010
Edition 14/14
Zikir 1
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Etching on paper
31.4 x 18.5cm
2011
Edition 4/6
BIOGRAPHY
Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim (b. 1952, Selangor, Malaysia) is a master printmaker that has been involved in the art of printmaking for close to half a decade. He first received his education at the School of Art and Design ITM (now UiTM) in 1975 until he graduated in 1975 and decided to pursue further education abroad. Due to the influence of a friend, he took on the journey for a printmaking education in France when he was granted a French Government Cultural Exchange scholarship, learning the French language for a year at Centre Audiovisual de Royan CAREL pour l’etude des Langues in 1976, before being admitted into the well-established, classical and historical school, Ècole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Art (Paris, France). In the years from 1977 until 1980, he became one of the young disciples of a renowned printmaker S.W. Hayter at Atelier 17 (now known as Atelier Contrepoint), learning the art of a specialised printmaking technique, viscosity printing which was devised by S.W. Hayter himself.
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After graduating, he returned to Malaysia and soon joined the infamous Anak Alam collective from 1980 until 1982, becoming the fifth batch member. In the collective, he extensively explored the multifaceted art of printmaking, joining exhibitions and participating in the group’s prolific activities. He took on an Art Teachers Diploma (ITM) in 1984, where he started to teach in several art institutions. In the year 2000, he received a special accolade of a visiting grant from the French Government to Lyon and Paris. In 2004, he finally received his MA in Fine Arts at UiTM, Shah Alam. His art career took off locally and abroad, from Kuala Lumpur to France, Poland, Italy, Vietnam, Korea and Japan amongst others with works ranging from sculpture to woodcut, etching, and engraving, to name a few. His notable works are collected by and can be viewed in Balai Seni Lukis Negara (Malaysia), Muzium Seni Asia (Malaysia), Bibliothéque Nationale de Paris (France), and the International Collection of Graphic Art, Prints & Drawing Cabinets, Cremona Civic Museum (Italy). Abdul Mansoor Ibrahim currently works in Selangor in a shared studio called Studio PENA with a long-time fellow artist and friend, Fuad Pathil.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Born 1952 (Selangor, Malaysia)
Educations
1971 1975 School of Art & Design, ITM, Malaysia
1976 Centre Audiovisual de Royan CAREL pour l’etude des Langues, Paris, France
1977 1980 Ècole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Art, Paris, France
1984 Art Teachers Diploma, ITM Shah Alam, Malaysia
2004 2006 MA Fine Arts, UiTM, Shah Alam, Malaysia
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Solo Exhibitions
1980 Contemporary Prints Exhibition, Alliance Françoise, Kuala Lumpur
1983 Graphics Prints Exhibition, Hotel Equatorial, Kuala Lumpur
2023 Tribute, Chetak 17, Wangsa Murni 4, Kuala Lumpur
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Group Exhibitions
1974 Contemporary Graphic Art, Goethe Insitute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1975 Young Contemporary ’75, National Museum of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1976 Graphic Prints Exhibition, Raya Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1978 Exposition des Artises Etrangers Boursier du Gouvernement Francais,
Maison des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
1979 Atelier 17 Graphic Prints, Virginia, USA
7th International Miniature Prints Competition & Exhibition,
Pratt Graphic Centre, New York
23rd Salon International of Prints, Madrid, Spain
1980 Hanga Hagaki, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo Japan.
Exposition des Artises Etrangers Boursier du Gouvernement Francais, UNESCO, Paris
Graphic Prints Exhibition, Wisma Loke, Kuala Lumpur
1981 Asian Art, Bangladesh
ASEAN Mobile Exhibition of Painting, Graphic Arts & Photography Landscape,
National Museum of Art, Kuala Lumpur
1982 Malaysian Art 25 Years, National Museum of Art, Kuala Lumpur
International Prints Exhibition, National Museum & Gallery, Singapore
1991 The 11th International Exchange of Prints, Seoul, Korea
A Touch of French, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
1992 IMPRESSIONS, Contacts in Prints, an Exhibition of printworks by French and Malaysian Artists,
Galeri Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Malaysianess of Malaysian Art: Question of Identity, Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur
1999 ALAMI: Antara Langit & Bumi Exhibition
1st Artist & Scientist – Langkawi Science Inspired Arts Camp Project,
National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2006 Studio PENA Art Exhibition, Alliance Francaise, Kuala Lumpur
7th World Print Triennale de Chamalieres, Paris, France
2009 L’ARTE E IL TORCHIO / ART AND THE PRINTING PRESS,
6th International Small Engraving Exhibition, Cremona, Italy
2010 8th World Print Triennale de Chamalieres, Paris, France
Penang International Printmaking Exhibition, Malaysia
2011 14th International Exhibition of Small Graphic Forms, Poland-Lodz’ 11,
Municipal Art Gallery, Lodz, Poland
2012 ASEAN Graphics Arts Competition and Exhibition, Hanoi, Vietnam
2013 15th International Exhibition of Small Graphic Forms, Poland-Lodz’11,
Municipal Art Gallery, Lodz, Poland
2015 Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial, Tokyo, Japan
French Conexxion, Balai Seni Visual Negara, Kuala Lumpur
“Peasants & Proletariats” Printmaking Exhibition, Xin Art Space, Kuala Lumpur
Black & White Exhibition, Vallette Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Sub_Urban Exhibition, Fergana Art Space, Georgetown, Penang
2016 2nd ASEAN Graphic Art Competition & Exhibition, Hanoi, Vietnam
Convergence of Soul, Black Box Publika, Solaris, Kuala Lumpur
2017 16th International Exhibition of Small Graphic Forms, Poland-Lodz’11, Municipal Art Gallery, Lodz, Poland
2018 International Printmaking Exhibition, Gallery 11, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Miniature Printmaking (KLIMEX), Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Seni Cetakan Sepanjang Zaman, Galeri Bank Negara, Kuala Lumpur
2019 Dialog Taiwan & Malaysia Printmaking Exhibition, Oriental Art & Cultural Center, Kuala Lumpur
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Collection
Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Muzium Seni ASIA, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris, France
International Collection of Graphic Art, Prints & Drawing Cabinets, Cremona Civic Museum, Italy
Malaysian Embassy, New Delhi, India
Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia
Individual collectors in Malaysia and abroad.