Pressing Matters is a dynamic four-week exhibition celebrating the depth, diversity, and enduring relevance of contemporary printmaking in Aotearoa New Zealand. Showcasing more than 200 works by leading and emerging printmakers, the exhibition highlights the richness of print as both a traditional craft and a powerful medium for modern artistic expression.
From finely detailed etchings and intricate woodblock prints to bold screenprints and experimental techniques, Pressing Matters reveals the remarkable range of processes that define printmaking today. Each work reflects the artist’s hand, patience, and technical mastery—qualities that set original prints apart in an increasingly digital world.
Complementing the exhibition is an engaging programme of artist talks and hands-on workshops, offering rare insight into the ideas, tools, and processes behind the prints. Visitors can deepen their understanding of techniques such as relief, intaglio, lithography, and monoprint through direct interaction with practicing artists.
At the heart of the exhibition, an active pop-up print lab brings printmaking to life. Here, visitors can meet printmakers, observe live demonstrations, and experience the tactile, collaborative nature of the print studio. This immersive environment invites audiences to slow down, look closely, and connect with the craftsmanship behind each impression.
Pressing Matters is both a celebration and a call to attention—affirming printmaking as a vital, evolving art form and offering audiences an opportunity to engage with the medium in meaningful and memorable ways.