Moroccan artists take part in India's first Mezzotint Exhibition

CASABLANCA - A group of Moroccan artists took part in India's first Mezzotint Exhibition' is being organized by Bihar Museum, Patna from October 7 to Nov 6 2018 at its 'Temporary Exhibition Gallery'.

Mezzotint is an art form, technically a dry point method of printmaking process. It has originated from the Intaglio family. It enabled half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching or stipple.

Mezzotint was the first tonal method to be used and it achieves tonality by roughening a metal plate with thousands of little dots made by a metal tool with small teeth called a rocker.

The tiny pits in the plate hold the ink when the face of the plate is wiped clean during printing through with a high level of quality and richness in the print can be achieved.

Oumayma Badoud, one of the four participating Moroccan artists, told Middle East Online that it was a thrilling experience that allowed her to learn this new type of art.

“The engraving process is both time consuming and difficult,” Badoud said, adding it was worth the try.

The artist painter from Fez said that her artworks drew the curator’s attention despite her first time.

Each artist gives some of their mezzotint engravings to the exhibition while they keep the rest, depending on the contract they signed during the workshop.

The exhibition is curated by art director and graphic designer Guy Langevin from Canada. It displays the artworks of 50 international artists and one local artist.

Bihar Museum celebrated “India First Mezzot Art Festival” in the first week of October as part of its “Establishment Day’s 1st Anniversary Celebrations.”

The one-year-old museum has a permanent collection that includes pre-history to contemporary art and regional art.