Printer's Proof – 100 Jahre griffelkunst

In the organizer's words:

The Griffelkunst-Vereinigung Hamburg e.V. publishes editions of original prints and multiples for its numerous members. In this way, it makes a decisive contribution to broader participation in art and the promotion of artists and the medium of printmaking. On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, we are honoring this commitment with a special participatory project: For two weeks, we are transforming the exhibition hall into an open print workshop and presenting an insight into the Griffelkunst collections of Hamburg artists.

With Thomas Bayrle, Martin Boyce and Nadira Husain, we have invited three nationally and internationally renowned artists to design a motif for the print workshop. During the project, visitors will have the unique opportunity to put one of them on paper under the guidance of experts and thus become the owner of their own work of art. In the open printing workshop from Thursday to Sunday from 3 pm, they can learn more about the traditional technique of woodblock printing and try it out. During the project, the resulting prints will remain on site to dry and become part of the exhibition. This makes the entire printing process and the visual diversity of the medium clear to see.

The print templates designed especially for the project address issues of networking and communication: based on his many years of exploring various forms of transportation, Thomas Bayrle has contributed a depiction of an intertwined road network. Nadira Husain places the iconic figure of Nefertiti as a wanderer in a post-migrant world at the center of her motif. Martin Boyce's work is based on a self-developed typography whose angular letters are reminiscent of carved names or small messages on tables, benches and in trees.

The print workshop is framed by a special exhibition of stylus art works that blurs the boundaries between production, collecting and curating: Hamburg artists* were invited to contribute favorite pieces from their personal collection to the presentation. Some of them have already created an edition for Griffelkunst themselves in the past. These works provide an intimate insight into the collecting practices of those involved and at the same time offer a highlight-like overview of griffelkunst's many years of work.

Special opening hours
Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 11 am - 6 pm
Monday closed

Open printing workshop
Thursday to Sunday from 3 pm
(except Sunday, 14.9.2025)

Finissage and collection of prints
Sunday, 14.9.2025, 3-6 p.m.