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The Undergrowth of Printmaking

A lively world of international print exhibitions, congresses and print exchange events
exists and thrives largely outside the focus of high art printmaking. Bookplates or ex libris – two terms for the same thing – occasionally appear in international miniature print exhibitions but will otherwise be found only in thematic events initiated by civic authorities wishing to mark an anniversary or national societies of bookplate collectors. And these collectors are serious because bookplates are the most sought after printed items after postage stamps. In recent years there have been bookplate competitions on the theme of the bicycle, the poet Verlaine, Rabelais, bread, butterflies and the Beijing Olympics.

In this compact exhibition you will see prize winning designs by artists from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Japan and gallery director Peter Ford’s own collection of recent bookplates from China. Mingling with the bookplates will be prize winning miniature etchings and engravings selected from the series of British International Miniature Print Exhibitions organised and managed by Off-Centre Gallery from 1989 until 2001. Supplementing the work on the walls - an exceptional collection of contemporary print and bookplate catalogues which you can browse in and, in some cases, purchase.

Contrasting with so many small works with texts, Peter Ford is showing a selection of his paperworks and relief prints on his own handmade paper.

Free entry.
Stairs.