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Enrique H. Martínez Leal
Associate Professor of Introduction to Graphic Impression
Faculty of Fine Arts in Cuenca, University of Castilla La-Mancha
Camino del Pozuelo S/N, 16071 Cuenca SPAIN
Email: Enriquehildebrando.martinez@uclm.es
Email: henryloyal@hotmail.com

Paper: “The Poetics of Retrieval. Obtaining Impressions, Making Prints”

This paper is concerned with modes of visualization that developed during the period of Enlightenment that parallel current sensibilities in the expanded field of printmaking and its ability for materializing unobserved occurrences. For the most part, these intuitions involve the obtainment of non-intentional indices. At times non-iconic, but nevertheless, descriptive, these events establish their provenance and authenticity by surface contact rather than by representational codes. The principle of redeeming marks made by no mediation whatsoever present the artist as operative rather than author, a role analogous to the 18th centuries natural philosopher’s “excavating” scientific reasoning.

In support of this paper I will present a series of prints and hand made paper objects I developed at Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper as a visiting artist/teacher. Entitled “The Entomography Series,” the project involved transferring the incised surfaces of fallen tree limbs, produced by bark engraving beetles, onto different substrates. The project deploys a broad (historical) spectrum of reproductive techniques that present the animated inscription of insects as an autonomous creating agency, which, in turn, allows for each reproductive process to evoke a distinctive reading for the beholder. The array of images and artifacts that developed from this project, promote the ability of printmaking to invent new forms of graphic representation by exploring the cognitive variance of discrete, physical data.

FRIDAY: 9:45-12:30          
Selected Portfolio showings in the Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu, Patio Hall
Portfolio Presentation: “The Entomography Series”

During the Fall of 2004 I completed a series of prints and hand made paper objects at Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper that involved transferring the incised surfaces of fallen tree limbs, produced by bark engraving beetles, onto different substrates. On the outset, the project was to deploy a broad (historical) spectrum of reproductive techniques that would present the animated inscription of insects as an autonomous creating agency. This portfolio presentation will exhibit work from this project.

 

ENRIQUE H. M. LEAL was bornin Brazil and studied and worked in various printmaking studios in the United States. Currently Leal is an Associate Professor in Introduction to Printmaking at the Fine Arts Faculty of the University of Castilla La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain. He received his B.F.A from the Politechnical University in Valencia and M.F.A. and a PhD. (dissertation: Process and Replica in Jasper Johns) from The University of Castilla La Mancha in 2001. Previous to his appointment at the U.C.L.M., Enrique has editioned prints for major artists in Spain and the U.S. His work has been shown widely in group and solo exhibitions in the U.S., Brazil and Spain and can be found in private and public collections in these countries. He has also been the recipient of printmaking fellowships from the Institute of Iberoamerican Culture (1976 and 1981) and the Spanish Academy in Rome (2002 Prix de Rome).

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Ento 1 shows the magnification of a hemp paper cast taken directly from the surface seen in the xylophagous-jpeg. The right panel shows a amplified area of silicon which has been scanned as a transparency and simply inverted to negative to create corpuscles. Digital file printed on Concord rag LANAJET 180 gr. 13X19 in. on an Epson 9600.

Ento 2 shows the scanned surface of a silicone mold also taken from xylophagous-jpeg. Inset into the image is a detail of the cast paper in Ento 1. Digital file printed on Concord rag LANAJET 180 gr. 13X19 in. on an Epson 9600.

Gravure 1 shows from left to right a magnified area of silicone which has been scanned as transparency, a clay tablet impression, and a detail of the silicone surface. Photopolimer intaglio print.

Hemp cast 1 shows a hemp paper cast. Digital print.