Final Definitive proposal Draft for review 2020

WORKING TITLE

A comprehensive investigation into creating safe printing processes and pollution-free environment, by devising methods of metal etching without the use of corrosive chemicals, for implementation in the Higher Education pedagogy of Pakistani Art & Design.

DESCRIPTION

This project will investigate innovative printing methods that will be contemporary in design and conducive to human safety, compared to the traditional methods in vogue. In particular, it will focus on the exploratory methods of ‘Etching without Acid’ followed by a physical demonstration of processes researched by the researcher.

With a widespread necessity of etching, this issue is significant owing to the use of corrosive solvents and hazardous chemicals in traditional printmaking that generate a high range of toxicity during studio practices. The poisonous fumes thus generated pose a high risk to human health and well-being and severely jeopardize the printmaking studio’s practising environment.

Since this traditional method has been used from centuries. Research and awareness campaign on safe methods of printmaking has been started in the world and safe methods are being introduced. While in Pakistan higher educational institutions where art degree is given, and artist’s individual studio practice, there is still the same traditional toxic methods are the part of curricula that is very dangerous not only for art teachers, students but also for everyone who is associated with printmaking studios. My research project can play a vital role in introducing new and safer methods of printmaking in art and Design higher education of Pakistan.

RESEARCH KEY QUESTIONS

1.   How to investigate the safe printing methods by etching without acid, their challenges and to explore safer alternatives to toxic printmaking processes?

2.   How to investigate and explore the new safe printing methods with etching without Acid, for the art & design higher education of Pakistan?

AIM OF THE PROJECT

To explore innovative safe methods of printmaking practice through research, analysis and experimentation, and to inculcate awareness of health & safety in studio spaces through the practical manifestation of processes, for eventual introduction and implementation at the CEAD University as a pilot project - for the first time in Pakistan’s higher education in art and design. 

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research project are to investigate and evaluate safe printing methods and identify feasible alternatives, through researched experimentation and to raise awareness of health & safety by introducing safe printing methods. Wherein, the Researcher will:

3.   Produce a Manual type Electro Etching Machine, to demonstrate etching without the use of toxic chemicals, and to deploy it in a studio environment for observing improvements in air quality during studio practice.

4.   Test and record operational results of various aspects of the electro etching machine, in order to critically evaluate the relationship between printmakers' creative practices and the exploration of environmentally safe printing methods.

5.   Produce a visual art practice utilizing new safe methods, the results of which will meet the aims of this project, and will raise awareness of health and safety and change print studio practice at the CEAD University.

CONTEXT

This research project particularly consists on the major subject of safe printing and issues of printmaking studio Practice with the context of health and safety to be introduced by the Pakistani Higher Education for Art & Design.

A Search for literature pertaining specifically to Safe Printing Methods with Etching without Acid revealed the limited nature of existing published material, however, a few significant references are listed hereunder:

1.   Dr Wael A. Sabour. 2017 (Vol-58, The Non-Toxic Contemporary Approach to Teaching Printmaking Art).

2.   Cedric, Green FRSA. 2013 (Green Print Prints A Handbook on some new methods for Non-Toxic Intaglio Etching).

3.   PENGELLY, J., 1997 (Environmentally Sensitive Printmaking: a Framework for Safe Practice).

4.   Alfonso, C. 2014. “Electro-etching handbook: A safe, non-toxic approach”.

References available for fine art printmaking is mostly specific to Fine Arts Printmaking, in that most of the research, references describe the techniques of printmaking, with the exception of a few that briefly touch upon health & safety. Furthermore, the 4 above-listed documents refer to safe printing methods, health & safety that the researchers can utilize for research and analysis of their personal projects. However, there is no mechanism available as an international law that governs health and safety in the pedagogic field of art and design.

It is emphasized that there is no literature available in the context of health & safety in Pakistani higher education related to safe methods of Printmaking in art and design.

Through a concerted in-depth review of relevant sources, the researcher can identify the best safe methods in order to fill this critical deficiency, specifically for safe printmaking methods and alternatives.

In this research project, the researcher will continue critical reviews of the relevant sources to fill the gap in the context of safe printing methods that ensure the health and safety of practising artists.

METHODS

The in-depth review of contextual material has pointed out that there are no pre-existing authoritative and safe ways for safe printmaking practice that allows an artist or a printmaker to continue safe and healthy creative work, especially in Pakistani syllabi-based practice in higher education institutes of art and design and artist’s personal studio practice. This is where the foundation of this research begins, hence this research will be brought to a logical conclusion through the following methodologies:

1.   Take a closer look through the deep review of relevant sources and find out more aspects related to the research project.

2.   Make possible the manufacture of Electro Etching Unit and replacing the traditional printmaking practice with this etching machine and continuing the creative process through it.

3.   The researcher will produce creative work through safe practice using an electro-etching machine which will be presented as evidence in this research.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PENGELLY, J.1997. “Environmentally sensitive printmaking: a framework for safe practice”. PhD thesis, Robert Gordon University UK. Available from:

https://www.openair.rgu.ac.uk

Cedric, Green. FRSA. 2013. “Green Prints: A Handbook on some new methods for non-toxic Intaglio etching and metal Plate Printmaking”. Eighteenth edition  October 2013. Sheffield S11 8RP Printed in France. Published by Ecotech

Design 26 Botanical Road.

Dr. Wael, A. Sabour. 2017. “The Non-Toxic Contemporary Approach to Teaching Printmaking Art”. Vol.58,.ISSN 2224-6061 (Paper) ISSN 2225-059X (Online) Page # 52-54. https://www.iiste.org       

Alfonso, C. 2014. “Electro-etching handbook: A safe, non-toxic approach”. 1st edition July, 2018. Printed in Madrid, Spain. Published by Alfonso Vega Crujera, Madrid, Spain. Printed in Madrid, Spain.