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Rahman Mohamed
Deputy Dean, School of Arts,
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
School of Arts
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA
Telephone: 604-6533 622
Fax: 604-6560 461
Email: manhaji2@yahoo.com

Paper:  “Printmaking in Malaysian Universities

Printmaking was first into art colleges in Malaysia during late 1940’s at the Nanyang Academy of Art. Only woodcut print was introduced initially. Inspired by the reproductions in the book brought from China, the instructors as well as the students began to experiment with woodcut as an art form. Since then woodcut printmaking has became a permanent part of the college’s syllabus. During the 1960’s several artists came back to Malaysia after graduating from art colleges and ateliers in the west such as Royal College of Art in London, and Atelier 17 in Paris, where they had the opportunity to study printmaking. These artists back the technical know how as well as knowledge on printmaking and disseminated this expertise to art enthusiasts in Malaysia.

The Specialist Teacher’s Training Institute in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur began teaching printmaking as part of their art curriculum in 1960’s with introduction of table-top presses for etching, plate lithography as well as letterpress. In the 1970’s Mara Institute of Technology set up a print workshop with full facilities for etching and other intaglio process. A few years later Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang set up their print workshop, which consists of facilities for intaglio as well as lithography. Today more universities and art colleges teach printmaking in their curriculum.

Besides tracing back the history and development of printmaking in the Malaysian universities, this paper will also discuss the role played by National Art Gallery, Malaysia in promoting the art of printmaking. Additional contributions have also been made by some foreign embassies.

RAHMAN MOHAMED was born in Johor, Malaysia. He has a Bachelor of Arts [Honors] degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He earned his Master of Science degree in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in New York, USA and Master of Fine Art degree in Graphic Design from University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, USA. Currently he is a senior lecturer in Graphic Design at the School of Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia. An artist printmaker, Rahman works mainly in etching, collograph and woodcut. As an artist he participated in numerous art exhibitions in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, France and United States of America. Besides printmaking, he also produces works in digital art and interactive multimedia.