Artist Laxma Goud’s printmaking initiative at Hyderabad’s State Art Gallery

The studio, which is open to visitors, aims to support the city’s community of printmakers, and encourage artists practising other mediums to branch out

Hyderabad now has a printmaking studio at the State Art Gallery. Spread over 5,000 square feet, this studio, which is an initiative of senior artist Laxma Goud and a team of artists, functions as an open house for printmakers, students and art enthusiasts. Divided into two parts, the creative workspace houses a printmaking machine (44x22 size) used for etching. Visitors can walk around — following safety protocols — observing and interacting with artists. The other half of the studio has paper and chemicals needed to wash the prints. While printmakers have to bring their tools, they may use the machine and the other materials for free. This studio becomes an important platform to create awareness on printmaking, which is a unique process to print patterns on a surface/plate with the help of ink and pressure. Printmakers can create as many copies of this design where each print becomes an original and valuable too.