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Eva Stache's curious technique
Apart from a few etchings, Stache's work stands out because of its special technique, that does not (yet) appear even in the overview of techniques listed by the Fisae.
Eva Stache compiles her drawings by cutting out shapes and mounting them on a plate. She sometimes adds other elements as well, such as a piece of rope that will represent the feelers of a butterfly. The whole plate is then inked. Sometimes she writes a text in the wet ink which then appears white on the sheet, such as the motto that seems to guide her: 'Artis natura maestra' (Nature is the teacher of art). Since sex also belongs to the nature of humankind and animal, that aspect too is often present in her work, in a silent way, sometimes in the form of an inconspicuous added vignette. Thereafter the plate is printed. At first sight, the result looks rudimentary and clumsy. Stache prefers brute expressiveness, straight from the heart, instead of sophisticated techniques. Each drawing is a well-planned and endearing composition. It is touching to see how the animals try to escape from the restrictive rectangular boundaries of the plate, how nature is struggling to survive Stache uses an original technique to express her opinion. Her way of working ensures that the prints can vary quite a bit in hue and colour intensity. Roel Slabbinck
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