Translating sound into jagged stone and scratched metal. An exploration of cultural memory, raw vocal texture, and the intense physical friction of drypoint printmaking.
In this parallel body of work, Donald Veshaj leaves behind the velvety shadows of mezzotint to command the aggressive, immediate lines of Drypoint printmaking on zinc and copper plates.
The “Polyphony” series is a striking visual response to traditional Albanian multi-part iso-polyphonic singing. Instead of merely illustrating musicians, Donald uses an diamond-tipped steel needle to scratch directly into the metal plates, creating high-friction burrs that catch ink in rich, chaotic, and heavily textured lines. The resulting prints feel less like static images and more like a raw acoustic vibration frozen on paper.
Unlike etched lines which are smoothed out by acid baths, drypoint retains the jagged metal “burr” thrown up by the artist’s hand. This physical ridge creates a signature velvety, slightly blurred line that degrades quickly under the immense pressure of the printing press. Because the delicate burrs wear down with every pass, each pull in this series is highly individual, making the limited run exceptionally rare.
The compositions mimic the structure of the music itself: a tense, intertwining dance between the sharp, soaring narrative lines of the lead singers and a deep, heavy, continuous tonal drone that anchors the background in rich ink.
Artist’s Note: “Drypoint leaves nowhere to hide. Every shake of the hand, every ounce of resistance from the metal is permanently cut into the paper. It is as loud and unpolished as a voice echoing in stone ruins.” — Donald Veshaj
