Head of Department's Message

Printmaking has historically been one of the most important fields of artistic production, enabling the reproduction of ideas, the dissemination of knowledge, and the development of visual culture. From the earliest woodblock prints to today’s experimental and digital printing techniques, this process has transformed printmaking from merely a method of reproduction into a dynamic discipline in which original artistic expressions develop and continuously evolve through research and innovation. With its structure that encourages thinking through the concepts of material, surface, and trace, printmaking enables artists to develop a conscious approach to the production process and facilitates the transformation of artistic thought into a tangible form.

As the Department of Printmaking at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Balıkesir University, we approach this deeply rooted artistic discipline from a contemporary perspective and support our students in learning both traditional and innovative production methods while developing their own artistic identities. The main objective of our department is to educate individuals who integrate technical skills with intellectual production, who research, question, think critically, and develop original forms of artistic expression. In this regard, our educational programs offer a comprehensive content that covers the historical development of printmaking, its technical diversity, and contemporary applications.

The educational process carried out in our department aims to provide an academic environment where students can reveal their creative potential, participate in experimental production processes, and conduct artistic research. In addition to traditional methods such as woodcut, linocut, metal engraving, serigraphy, and lithography, our students have the opportunity to explore new possibilities of expression offered by contemporary printmaking through experimental print techniques. This process enables our students not only to acquire technical knowledge but also to understand artistic production as a process of thinking and research.

An important dimension of printmaking education is the integrated development of research and artistic production. Artistic projects, exhibitions, workshops, and academic research conducted within our department provide a learning environment that encourages the active participation of our students. National and international projects carried out by our academic staff strengthen the scientific and artistic production capacity of our department while also enabling our students to closely engage with the contemporary art environment. This approach makes it possible to consider printmaking as a field that both preserves its traditional values and continues to develop within the context of contemporary art.

International interaction and academic collaborations constitute an important part of our department’s development vision. Through collaborations, exhibitions, and joint projects conducted with universities and art institutions in different countries, our students and academic staff gain the opportunity to directly engage with the international art environment. This process not only enables our students to become familiar with different cultural perspectives but also contributes to their development as individuals equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to express themselves within the international art field.

As a department of printmaking, we recognize that artistic production is not only a form of individual expression but also carries social and cultural value. In this regard, we support the meeting of art with society through exhibitions, artistic events, and social contribution projects, and contribute to the wider dissemination of the transformative power of art. With its reproducible nature, printmaking is an important field of production that increases the accessibility of art and enables the establishment of a strong connection between art and society.

The Department of Printmaking at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Balıkesir University, offers an academic environment that combines the well-established tradition of printmaking with a contemporary understanding of art, approaching research, production, and education through a holistic perspective. Our aim is to educate individuals who can evaluate artistic and intellectual production processes together, produce original works, and contribute to the field of art at both national and international levels.

We believe that art is a universal value that develops thought, conveys cultural heritage, and enables individuals to express themselves. In this regard, by providing our students with a creative, free, and productive educational environment, our department continues to contribute to their development as the artists, academics, and creative individuals of the future.

Sincerely,