Kijk! is a celebration of printing culture at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, made to mark the retirement of Joos Wiersinga, who has been manager of the Letterpress & Offset workshop for twelve years.

Letterpress and offset are old printing techniques, but more than ever relevant inside the walls of an art school today. Analog printing work allows one to experiment with the physicality of paper, ink, pressure, typographies, and water. It also builds a deep understanding and care in communication through collective and critical experiences. Next to that, letterpress and offset techniques offer an overview of the entire printing process, from concept to production, and how these are inevitably intertwined.

In the Letterpress & Offset workshop at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, students set type with lead and wooden letters, print proofs on cylinder presses, and can learn to print with the offset printer. Joos Wiersinga has brought a buzz to the workshop and her work has had a great influence on the production and experimentation with printed matter within the academy. She is also an essential key in the Amsterdam printing network as well as the international one. ‘Kijk!’ (‘Look!’) is a reference to a word that Joos uses a lot in the workshop, an invitation to look closer at a print. 

In this publication, we have gathered contributions and testimonies which illustrate Joos’ incredible commitment, and the importance of printing processes in the transmissions of knowledge inside and outside of the academy. 

Go to our webshop to pre-order your copy

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To make Kijk! a real object in all our hands, we need your help. To produce the publication in times of austerity we need your support in ordering a copy in the presale before the 1st of June. Once we have reached the base number of copies sold, we will be able to produce the book.   

We are all excited to make the publication come to life with so many wonderful contributions in the working and of course to also celebrate with its Joos’ printing career at the Rietveld. Kijk! will be launched during the week of the graduation show, on the 6th of July.   

* If the publication does not reach the base order amount your contributed amount will be returned to you  

** You can pick up your copy on July 6th at the GRA in person or opt for shipping. make a selection in the order phase.  

 

 

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Specifications:  

 

 

With interviews and contributions from Sara Kaaman, Elina Birkehag, Rietlanden Women’s Office, Maximage, Paul Gangloff, Drukkerij Raddraaier, current Rietveld graphic design students, Rietveld alumni, and staff. 

 

Edited by Elisabeth Klement and Miquel Hervás Gómez  

 

Designed by Théodora Jacobs and César Rogers, graphic designers, alumni from the Graphic Design department and former/current assistants in the letterpress/offset workshop of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.   

 

Lettering of Inna Kochkina 

 

Printing is supported by Drukkerij Raddraaier 

 

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Dimensions: 118 x 168 mm 

Pages: 200 

Binding: Open spine   

Other specs: Screen printed cover 

Edition: 300 

Offset printing with 1 and 2 colors depending on sections.  

Printed at Gerrit Rietveld Academie and by Drukkerij Raddraaier on offset