LINOCU_T is the printmaking pseudonym of Taz; an Isle of Wight-based printmaker fuelled by “puns, maoams, and the unparalleled key change in Whitney’s I Want to Dance With Somebody”.
“It probably sounds bizarro but I actually put-off trying my hand at linocut printing because I knew in my bones that once I did, that would be it, I’d become an obsessive linocut binch through and through and there’d be no turning back…”
That’s where LINOCU_T (sweary name pronunciation confirmed) got it right. Since attending a one-day workshop at London’s Thames Side Studios towards the tail-end of 2019 there have been few days where they haven’t been designing, carving, inking up and printing their weird and wonderful, tongue-firmly-in-cheek linocuts.
Taz implements a niche, comedic style that is perhaps more associated with screenprinting than the natural world subjects often found in linocut output. Yet, it’s a socially observant, side-eyed angle LINOCU_T has been championing from day dot. Whether it’s Tough at the Top’s sad, lonely tennis umpire (“I was watching Wimbledon on TV and just kept thinking how majorly-depresso the umpire seemed”) or a Brady Bunch type family tracking the days since their last narcotics use in the reduction print Live, Laugh, Love, Lines; it’s the juxtaposition and challenge of the traditional, those ‘what if’ moments that enhance the humour of LINOCU_T’s work and where they find most joy.
“Everyone’s weird in their own way and I think that’s something to be celebrated. What I find myself most drawn to are those strange, sometimes surreal thoughts knocking about in my head that make me laugh and will keep me lulz’ing as I go from concept to carving. If the end result makes someone else laugh too then that’s a pretty great bonus.”
2022 year looks set to be an exciting one as LINOCU_T turns their attention to printmaking full-time alongside helping run inclusive art workshops, something they’re equally passionate about. Continuing their wider printmaking learning is on the cards too, as they look to get to grips with screenprinting and monoprinting which they hope, travel-restriction-dependent, will include visiting studios UK-wide and internationally.
“I can’t emphasise how rad it has been to find myself part of the magnifique printmaking community. It’s such a diverse, dynamic, welcoming crüe and I’m stoked to keep meeting brilliant, inspirational creatives online and in person this year.”
People like David Barthold, someone LINOCU_T has long been a fan of (and who they were fortunate enough to meet in 2021 at his Brooklyn studio gaining a better understanding of his process) continue to inspire their artwork; “First off, to meet David as the total fan-gurl I am was immense and testament to that generosity of spirit people in the printmaking sphere so often have. He is someone whose work I admire and respect so blahdy much and so to see his world and chat to him about his inspo was something I’m still buzzing about to this day. One of the biggest takeaways – and something I want to continue building into my own practice – is stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Whether it be form, colour, technique, David’s pushing his work forward at every glorious turn and that’s a quality I want to reflect in my development as an artist.”
So, how might this reveal itself in 2022? “Colour! Heaps more colour and increasingly more social justice shout-outs. I haven’t yet found the balance between my comical style and passion for social causes so I’m amped to explore that more because y’know, it’d be kewl if the world didn’t implode.”
As predicted, relief printing has stolen LINOCU_T’s heart hook, line and sinker but we’d hazard not a minute too soon.
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