Gene Chu

The Dark World II
Aluminium Plate: Gum Wash Technique and Viscosity Printing
1 Run to print 3 colours
250mm x 380mm
2005

The Nameless Civilians III and The Dark World II

In nude form, the depiction of ordinary people was recognition of the purity of Man. These ordinary people were the victims of other ordinary people’s cruel action, which was driven by or derived from ignorance, prejudice, selfishness, pseudo-superiority and or hatred.

Technically these prints were done on aluminium plate using the gum-wash process, a method discovered from my own research on ‘White Drawing Experimentation’, in which the drawing is made by brushing gum wash on the plate. Further drawing is made by drawing gum directly on the plate using a pen. After the drawing is complete, ink of a creamy consistency is used to rub-up the entire surface before being rolled up and etched in the usual manner.

In the print The Dark World II, a form of viscosity inking is used to print the variable colour using inks of varying viscosity as in intaglio printmaking. In the process the plate was first rolled up as usual in one colour. The plate was then sponged with gum-water and dried. A blend roll using ink of less viscosity was then applied and the plate printed with all colours printed at once.

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