Master printmaker Naoji Ishiyama and Helen Breach next to The Babel Project

Back in January 2024, I posted a write-up in WNAA Update, about The Babel Project.

The idea of the project was to share the original image of the Breughal’s Tower of Babel in segments. The 335 participants remade their segments in their own ways using different printmaking techniques. Finally all the works were gathered as a new Tower. Each artist’s segment (chosen in a lottery) is 5″ x 7″ (13x17cm), and the completed image is around 2300 x 3200mm.
Project Babel’s goal was to gather printmakers from all over the world and build new connections between studios. Collaboration allows us to create artwork made with diverse printmaking methods and styles. The process is interesting in its unpredictability; the result emerges only when all segments are together to see how it differs from the original image in many interesting ways.

Museum label in Japanese!

The ability to collaborate is an essential human characteristic. The original story to which Bruegel referred in his painting, also indicates a human striving to create and cooperate – an interesting context with regards to the present moment.
The project was first exhibited in 2024 in Galleria Ratamo Jyväskylä, Finland, then in Helskini. This year the project has travelled to Copenhagen and Nebraska in America with a third showing this year in Niihama in Japan to which I was fortunate to attend.
One of the printmakers, Nioja Ishiyama, who conceived the project, included Babel in his own solo exhibition in The Akagane Museum in Niihama. Niihama used to be a centre of copper production on Shokuku, one of the southern Japanese islands. The newly built museum is clad in copper sheeting. It’s an amazing, purpose-built museum for, not only international works (there was also an exhibition of prints from the Louvre), but community use with studios, workspaces, classrooms, performance area, cafe and shop.

The project achieved it’s aim of gathering printmakers from diverse countries and is being shown around the world. It was a marvellous incentive to have a once-in-a lifetime adventure to Japan. A truly fascinating country with amazing fresh sushi, buses and trains that run on time and loos that put the UK toilet provision to shame. Go there if you can!!

Helen Breach
Rowan House Back Lane Castle Acre PE32 2AR
breachhelen@gmail.com