Expanding the Concept of Traditional Printmaking in the Practice of Expanded Printmaking: A Study of the Go Block Vol. 7 Exhibition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v11i2.975Keywords:
Go-Block Exhibition, Contemporary Printmaking, Principles of Printmaking, ConventionalAbstract
The development of contemporary printmaking has shown a change from a conventional understanding that emphasizes the production of printed editions through the use of blocks or matrices to a more open, experimental and interdisciplinary approach. Alternative printmaking allows printmakers to produce work that strays from the discipline's bounds while yet staying within its bounds. Go Block Vol. 7 serves as an important platform for redefining printmaking in Malaysia by expanding its material, conceptual, and presentation frameworks while maintaining connections to its traditional foundations. Therefore, this study aims to identify how the basic principles of traditional printmaking such as the concept of matrices, image transfer, re-application processes and visual traces are still maintained and reinterpreted in the exhibited works. The study uses a qualitative approach through visual and formal analysis of selected works, in addition to referring to exhibition documentation sources and writings related to contemporary printmaking. The study is expected to show that expanded printmaking does not reject the tradition of printmaking, but rather expands the possibilities of mediums, techniques and forms of presentation without neglecting the conceptual foundations of the discipline. This study is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the development of printmaking in Malaysia and its role in shaping contemporary visual art discourse.
Keywords: Go-Block Exhibition, Contemporary Printmaking, Principles of Printmaking, Conventional
References
Abdullah, M., Omran Zailuddin, M. F. N., Ahmad, K. A., Abdul Aziz, M. N., Abdul Rahaman, A., Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, & Faculty of Creative Technology and Heritage, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (Bachok Campus). (2020). Characteristic and categorization of monoprint’s among local artists in Malaysia. In Idealogy Journal (pp. 131–144) [Journal-article].
Arshad, M. F., Saat, M. K., & Desa, N. E. (2022). The ideology of era pluralist in the production artwork: Ketubukan Alternative Printmaking Exhibition 2010. KUPAS SENI: Jurnal Seni dan Pendidikan Seni, 10(2), 95–110.
Britannica. (n.d.). Printmaking. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved June 17, 2026, from https://www.britannica.com/art/printmaking
City Lit. (2023). What is printmaking? https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/what-is-printmaking
Drucker, J. (2004). The century of artists' books. Granary Books.
Hamidi Abdul Hadi, H., Musa Khan, S., Hamidon, N. A., & Harun, Z. (2019). GO-BLOCK 2009: Satu tinjauan terhadap seni cetak alternatif kontemporari Malaysia. Jurnal Pengajian Melayu, 30(1), 94–117.
Ivins, W. M., Jr. (1953). Prints and visual communication. MIT Press.
Krauss, R. (1979). Sculpture in the expanded field. October, 8, 30–44. https://doi.org/10.2307/778224
Omar, M. A. (2021). Malaysian alternative printmaking: A study on style (2000–2010) (Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Teknologi MARA). UiTM Institutional Repository.
Paroissien, L. (Ed.). (2010). The Print Council of Australia printmaking handbook. Print Council of Australia.
Ramli, I. (2023). Go Block Vol. 7: The Contemporary Expanded Printmaking Exhibition [Katalog pameran]. Malaysian Printmaking.
Sabri, N. S., Isa, M. J. M., Romat, M. S., & Jalaluddin, S. Z. A. S. A. (2022). Potential of jelly as a matrix in printmaking. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 7(SI7), 297–301. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI7.3799
Tallman, S. (1996). The contemporary print: From pre-pop to postmodern. Thames & Hudson.
UNSW Making Centre. (n.d.). Introduction: What is printmaking? University of New South Wales. https://www.making.unsw.edu.au/making-centre/learnresources/printmaking-learning-resources/introduction/
Zainal Abidin, M., Musa Kahn, S., Abdulah, N., & Jehsorhoh, J. (2026). Expanded printmaking development in Malaysia through the Go Block exhibition. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 11(36), 19–25. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v11i36.7805
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 UiTM Press
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
UiTM Press (the Publisher) has agreed to publish the undersigned author’s paper in Idealogy Journal. The agreement is contingent upon the fulfilment of a number of requirements listed below.
1. The undersigned author warrants that the paper entitled below is original, that it is not in any way libellous or unlawful in Malaysia, that it does not infringe any copyright or other proprietary right. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that he/she is the author of the paper, except for material that is clearly identified as to its original source, with permission notices from the copyright owners where required. The undersigned represents that he/she has the power and authority to sign and execute this agreement.
2. The undersigned author warrants that the paper entitled below has not been published elsewhere, and also it will not be submitted anywhere else for publication prior to acceptance/rejection by this Journal.
3. By submitting the paper entitled below, the undersigned author agrees to transfer the rights to publish and distribute the paper in an international e-journal (entitled above) to Publisher.
4. The undersigned author agrees to make a reasonable effort to conform to Publisher's submission guidelines and to liaise with the editor to ensure that the requirements of these guidelines are met to a reasonable degree.
5. The corresponding author signs for and accepts responsibility for releasing this material on behalf of any and all coauthors. This agreement is to be signed by at least one of the authors who has obtained the assent of the co-author(s) where applicable. After submission of this agreement signed by the corresponding author, changes of authorship or in the order of the authors listed will not be accepted.
