Duplicator Research Project

kindly supported by the Valerie Gleeson Development Bursary

The Valerie Gleeson Development Bursary allowed me to travel to IMPACT 12 International Printmaking Conference in Bristol, UK in September 2022. Here, I was able to visit several exhibitions and attend lectures and panel discussions hosted by artists and art workers. Talks by David Lopes and Marta Belkot from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto led me to the concept of Architectural Printmaking, and I was deeply inspired by the care and passion which both artists exercised throughout their research.

This bursary also funded the purchase of a Gestetner Neocyclostyle duplicator, which has been the primary focus of this research project. I had hoped to determine a way in which to create successful prints using the duplicator, by finding a way to create my own waxed paper which would be compatible with both the duplicator and also the Neocyclostyle pens also produced by Gestetner, however, during this process of research, I found that the visual results of using the “incorrect tools” to be more interesting than “perfect results” Furthermore, these results are more easily replicated by others who may have access to a Neocyclostyle pen, or a simple printmaking roulette tool. This method of viewing the matrix as finished object, forgoing the need for a waxed sheet, allows original Gestetner pens to be used by contemporary artists, without potentially clogging or damaging the tool.

Trip to IMPACT 12!

This trip allowed me to visit IMPACT 12 International Printmaking Conference where I had the opportunity to meet and speak to other printmakers, attend talks and lectures and also view some of my own work which was being exhibited.

IMPACT 12 Opening Ceremony!

I was delighted to be a part of the IMPACT 12 Opening Ceremony, led by the State of Print who guided crowds of printmakers through the city of Bristol

Group exhibition

From Riso Soup:

‘Riso Soup, a Dundee Risograph zine collective, are off to Bristol in September to take part in IMPACT 12, an international printmaking conference. They’ll be showing off their new book and exhibition, MISPRINT, while they’re there and they want you to take part!

The new exhibition will be site specific, using misprinted pages from the books production – which will be a Riso printed, perfect bound beauty showcasing the talent of Riso Soup artists. They’re inviting submissions for the publication and exhibition now. Some general themes to explore include: misprints, mistakes, serendipity, growth, progress, metamorphosis, variations, and change.’

For my entry to MISPRINT, I created a print using the original Gestetner wax stencils, and overlayed this image with various types of paper-eating bugs. Robert Gestetner, originally a kite salesman, made his first stencils from kite paper, however, upon realising that this paper was susceptible to being eaten by bugs, changed his product to a more sustainable alternative.

Riso Soup Zine

BTS of cleaning up my very own duplicator!

This bursary allowed me to bid on and purchase a Gestetner Neo Cyclostyle duplicator. Although the duplicator was in poorer condition than others I’ve seen, this allowed me some experience of cleaning up the piece while conserving and maintaining its condition. There were indicators of woodworm throughout the piece so this had to be treated before anything else.

Results of Gestetner Neocyclostyle pen with original Gestetner wax stencil paper.

Papers and stencils

Previous to examining the above duplicator, I had only read of wax paper stencils which were trademarked by Robert Gestetner, brandishing the warning

‘Any sheet not bearing this signature is a worthless imitation and will be found to clog and soil the pen and give inferior results’

The above duplicator contained silk stencils which appear to have been created using oil and ink, and used in conjunction with a typewriter of some sort. This broadened my testing beyond just paper, and led me to experimenting with silk and other fabric also.