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The term serigraphy originated from the Latin word sēricum” (fabric) and the Antique Greek word “γράφειν” Graphein (to write). It is the printing technique in which ink is transferred onto a sub-printing material through the holes in the mold. It was first used in China during the rule of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It later spread to and developed in Japan and other Asian countries and reached Europe only around the end of the 18th century.

Serigraphy allows printing on surfaces that are hard to or impossible to print on with other techniques. It can print on anything excluding gases and liquids, which is why it spread and developed so fast. Usually the main materials for the mold are made of silk, plastic, or metal capillary weaving. The frequency of these weaves affect the print quality.

Serigraphy is also know as silk screen, silk print, film-druck, and schema print. During the preparation for the mold, light-sensitive emmulsion is spread on the weaving in a thing layer and is dried. A film is exposed and put on top and then it is bathed in water. The emulsion layer where there are drawings don’t see pose thus they dissolve and are thrown away in the bath.

The hoop reaches the printing floor by closing the other areas in such a way that the desired areas of the hoop are opened by the special method and passing the printing paint over the hoop through the thin spaces by stripping. Then, once the printing process is complete, it is cleaned by selulosic solvents and is made ready for another print.

The Asian originated technique resurfaced with the invention of photographic method. The textile industry helped the development of this new technique by embracing it. During the 1920s artists started working with photo schema. In the 30s, serigraphy was use multipurposefully around America and Europe. Personal studios were opened. The technique that was both functional and artistic became colorful in France in 1947.

In Turkey, the exact date of the first use of serigraphy is unknown, however its development was similar to that in Europe. It was a very appropriate printing tecnique to mark goods after World War II; it followed a similar function in Turkey, too. With the liberal economy after 1950, serigraphy was used in advertisements and graphical applications. Bedri Rahmi Eyipoğlu was among the first artists to use it. Contemporary artists who use serigraphy include Süleyman Saim Tekcan and Devrim Erbil. Nowadays some artists produce silkscreen works with their own means or using studios in their universities. In Istanbul BigBaboli in Kadıköy is a studio specialized in silkscreen print and rent their studio or produces the silkscreens of the artworks. You can click here to reach the silkscreen by CINS on a workshop organized parallel to Printed’19 at BigBaboli.