The Escte event, anchored by NDP Estampa 2025, presented a compelling fusion of contemporary art and advanced printing technologies. Artists and designers explored material innovation, digital fabrication, and traditional craft to push the boundaries of visual storytelling, creating works that resonate across culture and disciplines.
The artistic vision stood at the heart of the program, where creators examined culture, identity, and social dialogue through print and pattern. The spaces were thoughtfully arranged to emphasize print media as a versatile canvas for experimentation, allowing artists to play with color, texture, and form in ways that blend tactile sensation with scalable reproduction. The interplay between hand-made intention and algorithmic precision revealed a dynamic tension that fueled both intimate details and expansive installations.
Techniques and mediums showcased a spectrum of approaches. Materiality and texture emerged as central concerns, with works employing recyclable and sustainable substrates alongside specialty papers that enhance depth and tactility. The blend of digital and analog processes—generative design, AI-assisted tooling, and traditional screen printing or lithography—enabled layered imagery and complex narratives. Bold color palettes and intricate patterns conveyed everything from personal memory to collective history, while scale diversity—from large installations to nuanced, detail-rich pieces—demonstrated the versatility of contemporary print as an artistic medium.
Blanca Berlin’s participation offered a thoughtful fusion of aesthetics and critique, underscoring art as inquiry. Her practice centers on creative inquiry, using visual language to spark dialogue about social issues, equity, and cultural representation. A mastery of technique shines through in her seamless integration of traditional craft with modern technologies, highlighting the enduring value of manual skill alongside automation. Berlin’s projects often involve community engagement, education initiatives, and mentorship, broadening access to artistic practice and nurturing the next generation of designers and makers. Her presentation featured live demonstrations that bridged process and concept, inviting audiences to consider not only the finished work but also the steps, decisions, and ethical considerations that shape creative production.
Critical moments and insights emerged throughout the event. Art was shown as a powerful translator of complex ideas into accessible visuals, with print providing a resilient platform for storytelling. The gathering underscored the responsibility of artists to address sustainability, provenance, and inclusivity within production ecosystems. The fruitful exchange between artists, designers, and technologists yielded partnerships that extend beyond the exhibition space, fueling ongoing experimentation and publication across journals, catalogs, and collaborative projects.
Looking forward, Escte’s evolution points to an expanding frontier where art, material science, and digital tools converge to broaden what is possible in print-based practice. The momentum generated at NDP Estampa 2025 suggests a future in which thoughtful, durable, and culturally resonant artwork can travel across genres and borders, enriching conversations in galleries, studios, and classrooms alike.
Photo credits: The photographs belong to the gallery’s archive.
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