Print in a digital world: Massey hosts three-day event in collaboration with The Embassy of Germany

The three-day event was attended by almost 200 Massey staff, students, people of the typography and print sector and the public. It consisted of textile print workshops, Māori letterpress classes, zine making, staff networking and a panel discussion.

It was held at Massey’s Pukeahu Wellington campus and hosted by Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts in collaboration with Toi Whakaata Māori Print Collective and the German Embassy.

Over three days, the medium of print was discussed, experimented with, queried and celebrated in its many forms.

Associate Professor Sonya Withers and Senior Lecturer Lisa Munnelly from the university’s textile design programme ran a workshop on textile print and colouration on the first day of the event, using examples of current students’ work.

The first day also saw Vanessa Edwards Buerger, a Māori printer from Toi Whakaata Māori Print Collective, host a letterpress course.

Ms Edwards Buerger reflects on how students used kowhaiwhai principles to print words, focusing on creating obscure patterns using te reo Māori words.

“This merely scratched the surface of what language is and could be, how powerful or insignificant it can be depending on who decides it is worth reading and reproducing,” she says.

Senior Lecturer Bryce Galloway from the School of Fine Arts ran a zine-making workshop, which allowed participants to be creative in a fun, unrestricted way.

After short remarks by German Ambassador-Designate Kristina Jonek, an evening panel discussion and networking event was held. Chaired by Associate Professor Kerry Ann Lee, each panel member outlined their involvement in print and what print might look like in the future, in an increasingly digital world.

Head of Te Rewa o Puanga School of Music and Screen Arts Professor Johnson Witehira, one of the panel members, says it was a great turnout and reassuring to know that most people believe print has a future as a source of truth.

“There was some kōrero about the future of print and one key takeaway was that in these tumultuous times of AI and misinformation, printed books might be one of the things we can trust.”

The event finished with a second letterpress course run by Ms Edwards Buerger.

Georgie Manning, an assistant technician in the Print Studio who helped coordinate the event, says it helped ignite excitement about future projects in print.

“People clearly care about making things, about print culture and about having places where that knowledge and enthusiasm can be shared. We’re delighted that the Print Studio can be one of those places and that The Future of Print has brought attention to the value of what happens here.”

Event coordinator, Senior Lecturer Matthijs Siljee, says he enjoyed the diversity of participants and the Indigenous knowledge and different world views that were shared.

Supported by the Embassy of Germany in Wellington, Professor Indra Kupferschmid travelled from Europe to contribute to this event and offer guest lectures at Ngā Pae Māhutonga School of Design.

Mr Siljee explains that it’s important for the university to maintain relationships with other countries, including Germany.

“Massey’s College of Creative Arts is recognised around the world for the high level quality of our programmes and research. The Embassy of Germany have been very keen to contribute to our success.”

As for the future of print, Mr Siljee says it’s clear that it has a bright future.

“Though printing evolved from ancient technologies, it has a bright future because of integrity. It is worth investing in qualities that are more and more sought after.”