Characteristic of monoprint among local artists in Malaysia / Muhammad Abdullah

A monoprint is part of the technique that is well established in printmaking. The characteristic of monoprint is easily recognised as a single output and different from the edition that is usually created through other mediums such as silkscreen, etching, engraving and others. Based on the current and previous studies, which specifically on the characteristic of monoprint was analaysed, then investigated from selected local artists in Malaysia. Therefore, this study will enhance further detail in monoprint that practiced in this country as compared to the other developing countries that are well established their in monoprint medium. In Malaysia, the monoprint medium was gradually explored by certain artists as an alternative to compose and present their creative artwork. Hence, the objective of this research is to study the characteristic of monoprint artwork that previously explored by printmaker artists in Malaysia and to categorise the selected artworks, in order to recognise the monoprint artwork through their characteristic. This study was conducted based on an identification of monoprint characteristics and the features from experts that was previously established and practiced. The results of the anlaysis showed eleven characteristics from two main monoprint characters, which are creative expression and innovation techniques. In the creative expressions, there are five kinds of techniques such as painting, drawing, color, interesting medium and a single output. For the innovation technique, there are six characters such as flat surface, liquid material, transfer image, printed images, printing technique and different with others printmaking medium. The visual observation of selected monoprint artworks and attached with artwork ’s description that gathered from the public gallery, private gallery and artist’s collection as to fulfill the analysis. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess, choose relevantly and identify the characteristic of monoprint precisely and clearly from the selected monoprint artworks. Significantly, the characters of monoprint represent the artwork in how the medium was created within creativity and expoloration. At the same time, the artwork showed the fact in making artwork follow the proper instruction, guideline, extant knowledge in monoprint, and differentiate both edition and single expression through monoprint. In fact, the artwork from this analysis determines the variety output, where the local artist was from the different background and shared various approaches and medium in producing monoprint artworks. Moreover, the existence of new art dimension is contributed multi dimension and new method as a one of displacement paradigm for art practices. Then the vital possibility where the monoprint need to sustain and upgrade as the main discipline in fine art institutions.