Printmaking takes centre stage in a new edition series by Monopol, developed in collaboration with the Zurich-based Edition VFO. The first artist is Stefan Marx, whose text-based works invite us to dream.
The liminal state between evening and morning, sleep and dreams, forms the subject of the edition Marx created for Monopol and Edition VFO. Phrases such as “Bonne Nuit” or “Heaven” appear in cloud-like lettering that at the same time asserts a painterly quality.
The artist, born in Hesse in 1979, refers to these works as “Schriftbilder” or “Typeworks” – pieces that resemble miniature poems. He began this practice some 20 years ago, when he first started drawing song lyrics as posters and discovered their expressive power. Marx creates artist’s books, record covers and skateboards, and exhibits his drawings and paintings internationally.
He produced his lithographs for Edition VFO and Monopol together with master printer Thomi Wolfensberger in Zurich, a leading specialist in stone lithography. “Wolfensberger had the oil-based inks mixed especially – like an alchemist. For the ‘Heaven’ print, for example, we first applied printing adhesive, then infused it with pigments, and finally added a thick layer of silver pigment. You only see that in the original – a photograph simply can’t capture it,” Marx explains.
This is precisely the kind of artistic project supported by the Zurich-based association Edition VFO, which is dedicated to preserving the diversity of printmaking techniques – now also in collaboration with Monopol.
Four lithographs by Stefan Marx
Stefan Marx has created four different lithographs for Edition VFO and Monopol, each measuring 56 × 46 cm. “Have to meet the sun and moon and”, “Heaven”, “It is quiet it is quiet here” and “Bonne Nuit Gute Nacht” (all 2024) are printed on special BFK Rives handmade paper (270 g) and are each issued in editions of 15 plus three artist’s proofs and one HC.
Each lithograph is priced at €872.17 including VAT.