Cedric Green
Cedric Green is an artist and print maker living and working in France, concerned about health and about the environment. He is also a man of many talents that are partially reflected by his international history. He was born in Mozambique, Africa. He soon moved to Southern Rhodesia and eventually trained in architecture at the University of Natal.
In 1962 he relocated to Great Britain where during a period of 30 years he produced buildings, drawings, designs, sculpture and paintings, and also taught at the Cheltenham School of Art, and Sheffield University in England. In the 80’s he became fascinated by printmaking, and acquired the basic technical skills. He soon moved to France, restored an old farmhouse for home and studio and began working full-time in 1991, painting and making experimental prints.
The Prints
The examples of prints shown here mark recent stages in the development of an individual technique which uses a wide range of methods—copper and zinc plates printed in *intaglio and relief, monotypes sometimes combined in the same print. His methods mix spontaneity of creation and execution, precision, controlled accident, and a search for ways of expressing ideas which have been a preoccupation of his for many years.
* A printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate; the plate is smeared with ink and wiped clean, then the ink left in the recesses makes the print.
Paysage nu (1), galvanized-etched plate, ©Cedric Green
Cedric’s Recurring Themes
Reflets 1
A recurring theme is Atlantis, Plato’s mythical utopia destroyed by flood as a punishment for people’s arrogance, a relevant myth for our time. Many of his prints and paintings are based on the ambiguity, distortions and complexity of reflections in water or in the imperfect mirror of memory. Musical ideas are important to him and appear in the frequent use of variations on a theme. http://greenart.info/green/
The Politics of Printmaking
Cedric’s printmaking technique (and enjoyment of printmaking) was transformed by the rediscovery of 19th century electrolytic printing plate-making processes— originally named Electro-Etching and Galvanography. He uses the term “galv-etch” and other names using the prefix “galv” to distinguish particular contemporary application of these old techniques. He is resolutely opposed to attempts to patent and restrict the use of methods that have been known and used by printers and etchers for 150 years. For more information about Cedric’s printmaking ideas go to http://greenart.info/galvetch/contfram.htm
If all of this work did not keep him busy enough, he just took three years off to build an ecological house and studio where he now lives and works. Click here to see Building a Solar House in France. http://greenart.info/theves/
