Use of gel printing in monoprinting

This study approaches the gel printing technique, which is a part of the historical process of printmaking, as an experimental method and examines its effects on monoprinting. Prepared with the aim of understanding the place of printmaking in art history, evaluating its development from a proper perspective, and revealing its transformation in contemporary practices, this study adopts both a theoretical and practical approach. The first section addresses the historical development of printmaking, emphasizing the cultural and aesthetic significance of the printing techniques used by artists in different periods. The position of printmaking within art history, its technical diversity, and expressive possibilities are discussed in detail.In the second section, the historical foundations of the gel printing technique are examined. In this context, the hectograph and mimeograph printing techniques are introduced first, followed by an explanation of how these techniques evolved into gel printing. Hectograph and mimeograph, which are traditional reproduction techniques, are evaluated not just as technical tools but as important steps that paved the way for the emergence of gel printing. The third section explores the role of the gel printing technique within experimental art practices. The material knowledge of gel printing, production process, technical details, and creative uses of gel printing are thoroughly covered. A broad range of applications is presented, from homemade gel plate preparation to printing processes using commercial products. Additionally, problems encountered during experimental printing and suggested solutions are discussed in this section. With its material diversity, image transfer techniques, and possibilities for multilayered printing, gel printing is regarded as a flexible and creative method in contemporary artistic production. The final section focuses on monoprints created using the gel printing technique. These monoprint examples, which emerged as a result of the experimental process, are analyzed to concretize the expressive potential of the gel printing technique. This study evaluates the gel printing method, which is part of the technical diversity of printmaking, not merely as a tool but as an integral element of contemporary artistic production, and opens a discussion on the unique forms of expression it offers to artists.