Riso printing passing knowledge forward
After working with Riso printing for over a decade, BEAST Studio wanted to open up their print studio and pass on their knowledge to more people by starting a community studio. The idea being that members can come and produce their own prints, connect with like-minded people and share skills and ideas with each other. A process where artistic expression and technical abilities echo forward to others and back to the studio itself, which is shaped by its members.
Risography is a printing technique with many dedicated practitioners around the globe. There is a type of community between printing studios, as an alternative to the established printing industry. Often in the direction of the subversive, non-commercial and more inclusive. However, it takes quite a large investment in the form of equipment, time, money and physical space to start your own Riso studio, or even just printing for yourself.
Not everyone who would like to has the possibility to get a machine of their own, and hiring professional print services isn't always economically feasible. Making the printing technique available to use for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to, is in line with the philosophy of most Riso studios around the world – the sharing and passing on of knowledge to others. Lowering the bar for designers to be able to realise their work and using their creative voice, which in turn can inspire others to express themselves.
Many designers put value in producing the final physical result of a work by their own hands, over sending it off and not having any insight into the processes that go into the production.
The window exhibition displays works produced by the members, and tells the philosophy behind the studio.
