Project Abstract

This project report explains the use of the four colour printing technique known as CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and key also known as black) to manually make a full colour print on fabric using the colorful Atilogwu dancers as a case study. This project is inspired by the need to create Atilogwu dancers using screen printing in full colours. Over the years textile designs on fabrics are mainly created for functional/utility purposes hence they are seen in draped fabrics and apparels. They are used as clothing materials and for beautification and aesthetic functions in the case of painting. The report therefore is an attempt to give a visual representation of the Atilogwu dancers using the process of full colour screen printing which could be a form of textile painting to serve as aesthetic purpose. It is also portraying the beauty and uniqueness of printing in primary colours which can be used to get other colours with high aesthetic values.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1BACK GROUND STUDY

The oxford advance learners‟ dictionary defined printing as an act of producing letters, pictures on something either by pressing a surface covered with ink against it.

JOHNSON: 1994: 72 – 73 defined printing as an act of making an impression of words and pictures on paper, fabrics or heavy machine. Printing could be said to be any of several technique for reproducing text and illustration in black and colors on a durable surface in desired number of identical copies.

CMYK refers to the four inks used in some colour printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). Though this varies by print houses, press operators, press manufacturers and press run, ink is typically applied in order of abbreviation.

Half tone is the technique of reproducing documents and graphics in printed form through continuous dots and tone imagery, varying either in size or in spacing, as a result of generating a gradient – like effect.

Dance as defined in wordweb dictionary, is a “move in a graceful and rhythmical way” responding to sound and music, that involves the movement of the body. It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction or exercise in a spiritual or performance setting and is sometimes used to express ideas or storytelling. Dance may all be regarded as a form of non verbal communication between humans or other animals. Dance can be participatory, social or performed for audience. It can also be ceremonial, competitive or erotic and it is an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment.

According to Okoro Chiamaka Clara,June 2014. The word „dance‟ bring into existence different images for different people. Over the years, dance has evolved into several distinct forms. Different styles of dance are distinguished by many things such as shoes, music and costumes. There are different types of dance in the world which includes salsa, ballet, tap, disco, jazz, swing, hip hop dance etc.

She further stressed, that In Nigeria, we have multi- ethnic groups. The people of Nigeria cherish their traditional languages, music and dance. We have the Tivs Swange dancers of Benue state, Bata dance of the Yoruba people, Fulani dance of Northerners, Igbagbone Limhin masquerade dance of the Esan people of Edo state, Ikpiriogwu ogu dance from Abia state, Ohogho dance of the people of Benin, Ogono dance of Itsekiri people of Delta state, Atilogwu dance of the people of Anambra state etc. in an effort to create awareness to the people about the different dance groups in Nigeria, hence the need for the project,

ATILOGWU is a traditionally youth dance from Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria. It is a dance which focuses on vigorous body movement and often includes acrobatics. In reference to Petermack 007‟s weblog, Atilogwu dance has been elevated to a jazzing art form, particularly by the Igbo people of Anambra state. The tempo of the dance matches the tempo of the music, which is dependent of the beat of the drum (Igba), a big metal gong instrument ( Alo), and the flute (Opi). In Atilogwu dance, the role of the flute player and big metal gong player dictates the peace of the dance.

The Atilogwu dance is performed during important festivals like new yam festivals (iri-iji ohuru) which is the most significant festival in Anambra state and also other Igbo dance can be performed on great social occasions such as traditional marriages (igba nkwu), the kings (Igwe) coronation etc. in fact, Atilogwu has become a culture performed around the world.

• Some scholars have documented the activities of Atilogwu dancers in pictorial form on prints, paintings on canvas, tapestry etc but they have not been able to document their work on fabric with the application of CMYK on screen printing of half tone technique.
• The use of CMYK has been a big problem in the industry as it does not retain long lasting effects on thick

1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY

The focus of this research work, is to discuss the on use of four colour printing technique known as CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and key also known as black) to manually produce a full colour print on fabric using the colorful Atilogwu dancers as a case study. The size of the work will be done on A1

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main reason of this project therefore is an attempt to give a visual representation of the Atilogwu dancers using the process of full colour screen printing in half tone technique which could be a form of textile painting, which serves as aesthetic purpose in primary colours which can be used to get other colours with high aesthetic values

Printing the activities of the Atilogwu dancers on thick fabric is to apply the principle of “memory colour”.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

• This project has enabled the researcher in provided her with the platform of expressing herself uniquely, through a medium that has not been explored which she hope will be of immense benefit in the screen printing
• This research work will enable practitioners in the field of textile to be more efficient and accurate in the use of CMYK ink to print on thick

Above all, to document accurately in a pictorial form the Atilogwu dancers on thick fabric which the researcher beliefs will have a long lasting effect that could be preserved for generation yet unborn to have a memoir of the cultural heritage of the people of Anambra state through artistic and aesthetic representation of the Atilogwu dance for educational and informative purpose