Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Art & Culture Special – Denmark
Master printer Niels Borch Jensen. Photo: Birgitte Rubæk
The art of the unknown Niels Borch Jensen has been interested in art since childhood, when one of his favourite books was a collection of Goya’s etchings. At the age of 17, a teacher introduced him to the world of graphic printing and, soon afterwards, Borch Jensen acquired a printing press, which he duly put in his bedroom. In 1979, he set up his own graphic print shop in Copenhagen and today he is considered one of the world’s master printers, having helped artists such as Julie Mehretu, Danh Vo and Tal R to find their own expression in print. By Louise Older Steffensen | Photos: BORCH Editions
“When they think of prints, people usually think of things like poster prints and reproductions of other art, but print art in itself makes for exciting and unique pieces,” says Borch Jensen. “Each print is an original piece of art.” Even when artists work with the same motif for a little while, changing the colour will dramatically alter the look and feel of the image. The artist only gets to see the effect at the end of the process – and once the print is done, it is done. “Prints provide a nice amount of resistance,” he elabo40 | Issue 104 | September 2017
ten work with artists across several years or even decades, helping each one to experiment and develop his or her distinct voice within the temperamental medium. They have worked with the Danish artist Per Kirkeby since 1979 and the Isrealiborn artist Tal R since 1995. Despite the close collaboration process and the important role of the printmaker, Borch Jensen rejects the artist label for himself. “I think I hit upon quite a good way to explain the relationship a while ago,” Borch Jensen explains. “It’s quite similar to that of architects and engineers. The artist has the vision and the creative genius to get there. We have the practical know-how and the technical expertise.”
rates. “Artists never know exactly what they’re going to get before the final print is revealed.” He speaks in an urgent, enthusiastic voice. “Now, something like 90 per cent of artists will loathe the medium for that very reason, but for the remaining ten per cent, that unpredictability becomes a catalyst that can unlock a whole new way of expression.”
Start the press: the history of print
Because of the steep learning process and the ever-changing results of prints, Borch Jensen and his talented team of-
Graphic printing may seem a little more obscure than its painting, drawing and sculpture cousins, but in fact it has been an integral art form from Europe to Japan