Lithography of Contemporary Artists on Display

A lithography exhibition featuring works of prominent contemporary artists is underway at Aria Gallery in Tehran until September 7.

On display at “Certified Copy” are works created with various printmaking techniques including chalcography and etching by 14 visual artists who had an important role in shaping Iran’s modern art, Honaronline reported.  

Lithography is a method of printing based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone or a metal plate with a smooth surface. The stone is treated with a mixture of acid and gum, etching the portions of the stone that were not protected by the grease-based image.

When the stone is subsequently moistened, the etched areas retain water; an oil-based ink can then be applied and would be repelled by the water, sticking only to the original drawing. The ink is finally transferred to a blank paper sheet, producing a printed page.

In modern lithography, the image is made of a polymer coating applied to a flexible plastic or metal plate.

Included at the exhibit are silk screen prints of contemporary painter Bahman Mohasses (1931-2010), six silk screen abstract prints by Sirak Melkonian and two works by prominent lithograph artist Abolfazl Beytoei with aquatint technique (a variant of etching).

It also features two photo etchings by New York based illustrator Nahid Haghighat, a monoprint by modernist Iranian-American painter Nikzad Nodjoumi, a black and white chalcography and a monoprint by sculptor Samila Amir Ebrahimi and a mythical chalcography by Ahmad Vakili.

The venue is No. 10, Zarrin Alley, Shahid Beheshti St.