— Mina Bach

Archive
Printmaking

Finally! All 30 copies of the zine have been risographed (by the nice people at Hato Press), hand bound by yours truly using bakers twine and trimmed down to size. ‘How to wow a woman’ is a 32 page double sided zine featuring quotes found in 1940s and 1950s advertising campaigns on one side and a 5 piece full apron pattern from the period on the other side should you ever need one.

It all started with my vintage magazine collection and my tumblr. The 1950s are my favourite decade but to me literally:

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times [...]

we had everything before us, we had nothing before us’

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The recurring theme of the man trap and all the different ways to build one:

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I have a lot of material so I will use the money I make from this edition (risograph is a very expensive process and so is my choice of paper so literally making no profit) to print more issues maybe with a theme (advice for wives, intimate hygiene, kitchenalia,…). So buy one if you can and help fund it!

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Ballad Of… recently featured my Tattoo project on their ‘Brand New Art we Heart’ site. Thank you very much ladies, what an honour! Published bi annually they also put on exhibitions, events and all sorts of exciting collaborations. Can’t wait to submit work for the next issue, the theme is to do with Animals, a first for me.

In the meantime, read the full feature online here

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I finally got round to scanning these solar plate prints I made for my end of year project at uni as they were still in LCC for the summer shows, it’s probably my favourite printmaking technique, alas, extremely labour-intensive. They Illustrate my (very) limited edition book called ‘Tattoo‘ loosely based on the 1941 traditional spanish song made famous by the one and only Concha Piquer. It tells the story of a girl that falls in love with a sailor with a tattoo of his ex’s name… read it before I spoil it for you but, I’ll warn you now, it’s heartbreak fest for everyone involved.

The collages combine found photos and images of the period with traditional Tattoo inspired drawings, some of the collages are made out of well over a hundred images.

Handprinted A5 Chine-Collé 1 Ink Solar plates

Tattoo

It was a foreign ship that brought him to me

I found him that dark and cold summers eve

As the lighthouse sent the vessels its gentle kiss

Tattoo

All Charms and hair as light as Ale

Proud he stood with his chest tattooed

His voice an aching nightingale

Tattoo

Soon after one bottle he started to reveal

The story of the name written on his skin

For the deep inked wound would never ever heal

Tattoo

“We once had love but she soon forgot

and forever I shall try to win her back

the only one I truly loved now long gone”

Tattoo

One grey morn in that same ship he disappeared

Having stolen something from between my lips

The one thing I asked him for, a lovers kiss

Tattoo

From then on I have been looking from port to port

Is he dead or alive is all I need to know

The only one I truly loved now long gone

Tattoo

Since that kiss I can’t eat, breathe or sleep

Look at his name now inked deep in my skin

If you find him let him know I am dying for him

Many thanks to Gloria and Veronica for the help and endless patience with the text.

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Back in October I chose Golden Lane as the subject for the ‘City Surfaces’ brief. One of the finest public architectural spaces of 1950s Britain, this Council Estate is now home to 1,500 people in central London. I am fascinated by the primary colours and the idealism and hope of Post War community living (there is a public swimming pool, tennis court and gym, nursery and even an Art gallery). I want to live there so much!.

‘The Truth is Concrete’ is a series of hand printed A2 posters using a variety of printmaking techniques and materials. I’m now in the process of designing a book form using the images.

Lino Cut Alphabet:

Golden Lane

Great Arthur House:

Golden Lane

Chinese Collage Hand printed Collagraph and Lino cut :

Golden Lane

Bayer House:

Golden Lane

Chinese Collage Hand printed Collagraph and Lino cut :

Golden Lane

Bowater House:

Golden Lane

4 Layer Lino cut:

Golden Lane

Crescent House:Golden Lane

On the left a photocopy collage from the image above that I manipulated digitally to create a pattern:

Golden Lane

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