Over the last decade, it has become impossible to ignore the sheer multiplicity of artistic styles, mediums and creative processes that have come to characterize contemporary print-making. Innovation in production and reproduction technologies have allowed artists to consistently push the boundaries of self-expression and work in an unprecedented range of new creative formats. However, this relentless pace of innovation and experimental research may have triggered an equally radical counter-movement: while some artists have fully embraced recent technological processes, a growing number of artists remain unconvinced and continue to advocate for more classical and normative modes of print-making. This false binary between traditional and digital techniques in print-making takes us at the heart of two important new questions: How could digital technologies and reproduction methods claim their rightful place in the longstanding tradition of artistic experience and imagination? And how will the traditional craft of print-making continue to evolve without becoming mere nostalgic reenactment of taken-for-granted archaic forms of expression?

The International Contemporary Miniprint of Kazanlak is an annual exhibition whose aim is to stage and broaden this conversation accross various cultural forums. It challenges the notion that an exhibition ought to focus solely on the technical aspects of printmaking, one way or the other. As the medium is not a substitute for content, Miniprint Kazanlak showcases both traditional and experimental prints of high technical quality and imaginative depth. The format and timeframe of the annual event aims to provide a stage for artists, curators, collectors and art lovers to gather and exchange ideas in order to share new knowledge and insights on the discipline and future of print-making for years to come. 

The Art Gallery of Kazanlak during the 2015 edition.