Summer Palace 1975

"Summer Palace," an abstract print by Adja Yunkers, uses lithography, a printmaking technique that relies on the resistance between oil and water. The process begins with a smooth stone or metal plate, on which an image is drawn with a greasy crayon. After treating the stone, it's dampened with water, which adheres only to the non-greasy areas. When oily ink is rolled over the surface, it sticks only to the drawn image. The image is then transferred to paper using a press. Yunkers coaxes a subtle range of effects from this process, using thin washes of color. It is an approach that allows the texture of the paper to show through, with a layered translucency. The combination of these techniques creates a luminous, atmospheric effect. The work reminds us that what we call "art" emerges from specific actions undertaken by an artist, and the transformation of ordinary materials.