Artist participated in the Oficina Guaianases de Gravura Laboratory
Mazé Andrade has studied free drawing, pen and ink, monotype, oil painting, wood engraving, metal engraving and ceramics. Around 1995, he also fell in love with lithographs, starting to attend the free studio at the Federal University of Pernambuco. It was there where he met and lived with master Hélio Soares, who passed away in May 2020, aged 74. Seu Hélio worked in printing houses and, alongside João Câmara, Delano and other artists, was part of the former Oficina Guaianases de Gravura, in Olinda, between the 70s and 90s. He then began to dedicate himself to the UFPE studio, transforming at the Oficina Guaianases de Gravura Laboratory.
It was in this effervescent scenario that artists, many of whom were experienced in other techniques, delved into the world of lithograph or lithography which, as the name (Greek etymology) indicates, is writing on stone. With ink and lithographic crayons, rich in fat, it is drawn on the limestone. Afterwards, it passes through a chemical solution (water, acidulations - nitric, phosphoric and tannic acids - and gum arabic) and goes to a press. The white, non-greasy areas accept moisture and move lithographic ink away when printed on paper. The designed areas repel water, accepting the greasy paint applied with the press roller. This prevents stains on the paper.
Currently, other printing matrices are also used, such as metal, but Mazé says that, in the laboratory, they worked with stone. In fact, the installation at the university was thanks to the donation of two presses and 700 lithographic stones from the former Guaianases Movement. “Hélio was kind and extremely dedicated to the studio. He explained the entire printing process with great enthusiasm, without ever omitting clarifications”, recalls the artist. The master lithographer was also at the head of the Ita-Quatiara Collective, later created by Rennat Said and José Rodrigues.
Beginning - The lithographic process was discovered at the end of the 18th century by the playwright Aloys (or Alois) Senefelder who, without resources, looked for a way to print and publicize his plays in Bavaria. Intensely used in the 19th century, it was later improved by renowned artists, who developed color lithography.
Look the video on the channel Bem Brasil
Master Hélio printing a lithograph by Mazé Andrade