On February 27th, 2018, the Centre Pompidou Paris hosted the opening of its Latiff Mohidin exhibition. Jai came to Paris for that event with long time friend and collector Pakhruddin Sulaiman.
At Hylergon Collection – Fumanart, we straight away pictured Jai doing a print at the Idem workshop with which we work regularly. It was a remarkable opportunity to have a greatly skilled Malaysian artist work with one of the world most reputable printmakers. Soon contacts were made and the project planned.
In Paris, we were lucky to meet up with Zakii and invited him to join the project which he accepted with pleasure when he visited the workshop.
Ahmad Zakii Anwar working on his stone – Paris, Feb 2018 – photo by Zakii
Jalaini Abu Hassan working on his stone – Paris Feb 2018 – Photo by BYNDR
About the Idem workshop:
The Idem workshop in Paris (France) is a magical place, an Hogwarts for artists. One day, David Lynch is there, the other it is Pierce Brosnan, another day, even Karl Lagerfeld shows up: a lot of artists working side by side on stones and plates. In the background, it smells of inks and chemicals, you hear and see heavy machines (6 to 20 tons) turning and artworks being created.
The workshop was established in the 19th century and has not changed much since the beginning of the 20th century. The printing machines are rare 100-year-old lithographic prints by Marinori and Voirin, renowned manufacturers of printing machines of that era.
Previously known as Mourlot, this workshop has worked with most 20th century artists: Picasso, Miró, Calder and hundreds of others.
It has pioneered the actual renewed interest in art prints and works with world-class artists. JR, Paul McCarthy, Izumi Kato, David Lynch, William Kentridge, Stéphane Blanquet work there on a regular basis. Os Gemeos, Kenny Scharf, Pierce Brosnan, Daido Moriyama… work there occasionally. Even Karl Lagerfeld has prints made there for the French luxury brand Chanel.
Idem counts with a team of highly-experienced professionals, the knowledge of a wide range of techniques and top quality stones and equipments. It is the Hermès of art printing.
