Pressink

Pressink is a letterpress and creative workspace based in the cultural center Nová Cvernovka in Bratislava, Slovakia. The studio was established in 2016 by graphic designer Kristína Uhráková, and is the first functional space dedicated to letterpress in Slovakia. The studio works with a limited collection of metal and wood type, one type cabinet, two German proof presses FAG Standard AP 510, and a Korrex Hannover. As well as using traditional printing techniques, Pressink also implement new technologies including laser cut and polymer to produce bespoke limited edition artworks. 

In 2016, Kristina moved back home to Slovakia after spending more then 10 years in England where she studied and work. In 2012, she completed her BA in Visual Communication at Central Saint Martins university, which is where she first came across letterpress printing. She comments; “At first I wasn’t crazy about it, and I didn’t use the workshop much. However, I regained my interest once I started to think about moving back home to Slovakia”. After graduating Kristina worked as a graphic designer in various studios in London, from government, to branding and editorial design. However, she soon realised that London was no longer the place for her and felt like it was time to move on; “I felt like I had finally something to offer and bring to my homeland”. 

Kristina’s idea to create a letterpress studio was born from the fact that there was nowhere in Slovakia offering the printing service. At the time, one of Kristina’s friends had come across a British platen press ARAB which was on sale in Amsteradam (Thomas Gravmaker/Letterpress Amsterdam), igniting her journey into starting Pressink. After purchasing the press, over the following 5 years Kristina established Pressink as a fully functioning letterpress studio. She acquired an old wood cabinet in Barcelona, sourced some type in Slovakia and across the Europe, fundraised money for her first proof press FAG Standard, and won a grant for her latest edition, a Korrex Hannover.

Today, Kristina works as a freelance graphic designer and letterpress printer, creating identities for cultural events and books for various institutions and publishers. Through her practice as letterpress printer, she mainly focuses on typographic form exploration, paying close attention to typographic shapes and colours – finding the right balance, composition, meaning, and aesthetics. Currently, Kristina is working on an ongoing typographic poster series; a fun project which she describes as having a “deeper personal meaning”.

“With the help of new technologies, I feel like analogue printing is not limited and I am able to create pretty much anything I want. As a self taught printer I must say the curve was, and still is, long and I love all of it. Getting better in what you do and believing in yourself is a key.” 

Kristina hopes to one day own a shop with a store-front somewhere in the city centre of Bratislava or Vienna, as well as creating a women’s collective or shared space where together they will be able to learn and create.

@pressink.sk
www.pressink.bigcartel.com

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