The Experimental Woodblock Printmaking and the Art Creation sets of the Balance : Body and Mind

Abstract

“The Study of Print Making in Experimental Woodblock and the Art Creation Series ‘Balance: Body and Mind’” aims to explore ways to integrate the conceptual processes of Buddhist philosophy concerning “form and name” with the experimental woodblock printing technique. The study utilizes mulberry paper produced in the Lanna community as a key material, combined with an adapted Japanese watercolor woodblock printing technique.
The main objectives of the study are as follows: 1) To create visual artworks that reflect the concept of “form and name” based on Buddhist philosophy through the delicate art of experimental woodblock printing. 2) To investigate approaches for applying locally produced mulberry paper from the Thai Lanna area in creating woodblock prints. And 3) To reduce costs and production time in creating artworks using watercolor woodblock printing techniques, while elevating the quality of these creative works to meet research standards.
The findings reveal the unique properties of the experimental watercolor woodblock printing process. The watercolor absorption process of mulberry paper is scientifically known as “osmosis,” which can serve as a metaphor to reflect the relationship between “inhalation and exhalation” as well as the connection between body, mind, and breath, as expressed in the following equation:
Papers and Mulberry Papers = Body / Form
Water and Watercolor = Mind / Breath / Name
Additionally, the study found that mulberry pulp paper mixed with bamboo pulp produced in Lanna can effectively be used for experimental watercolor printing. 100% mulberry pulp paper is highly flexible and resistant to tearing. When printed using the watercolor technique, it produces speckled colors and uneven smoothness. In contrast, 50% mulberry pulp paper mixed with bamboo pulp is less flexible than the 100% variety but results in a smoother appearance. This paper yields a beautiful cream tone when used in watercolor printing. The 25% mulberry pulp paper mixed with bamboo pulp also exhibits a lovely cream shade, with higher flexibility and efficiency in watercolor printing applications.
However, whether each type of mulberry pulp paper effectively reflects the intended artwork depends on its alignment with the conceptual content. The art series ‘Balance: Body and Mind’ is rooted in the Buddhist philosophy of “form and name,” highlighting themes of transience and the uncertainty evident in each print. The use of mulberry paper and the technical processes involved in experimental watercolor printing align well with this conceptual framework.