To quote from the promo: “Reflecting on the emerging new world order, the exhibition will feature works that reference and explore inter-related themes of society, control, defiance, resistance, preservation and legacy.”

There will be artwork from the past year’s artist residencies and new commissioned comic/zine publications work by four young artists. And look out for eight limited-edition T-shirts designed and printed by youngsters.

This is local emerging talent on show, not the up-town celebs strutting their stuff for profit. Johnny, Bethany and Ryan, the team at Blueprint, say “We believe in artists and value what they have to say. We understand the courage it takes to speak openly under conditions of oppression.” Over ten years they have been impressed by the talent, creativity and perseverance of more than 200 youngsters.

Rather than focussing on possible future dystopias, they take strength in the present moment and the value of sharing, community-building, and hope.

But in this post-truth period, in which facts, honesty, and balance hardly matter if the narrative is attractive, the Print Expo in August revisits George Orwell’s dystopian book 1984.

On display will be The Winston Smith Library of Victory and Truth, a special sculptural installation by artist Hans K Clausen. The fictional character Winston Smith (his very name was a satire on bringing the almost deified war leader hero Winston Churchill down to a common surname) identifies himself to himself on paper: “To mark the paper was the decisive act”, his initial act of rebellion against the oppressive Party. By writing in his diary, a forbidden activity, Winston acknowledges his own thoughts, and challenges the Party’s control over his mind, perceptions, and memory.

This seemingly small act is a significant step in his defiance, foreshadowing the potential consequences of independent thought in a totalitarian regime.

‘Hans K Clausen’s studio is a wunderkammer writ large. From his collection of objects, found and sourced, Clausen attempts to make sense of our world, he states his practice is: an enquiry into the meaning making of life, how we employ objects to punctuate our lives or to escape from them.’ Gordon Munro

None of this creativity happens by accident or good luck. Out of the Blue, of which Blueprint is a part, is a social enterprise committed to raising funds and facilitating activities with a social purpose.

It would be impossible for a youngster working with Blueprint not to be drawn in by the richly creative activities of the other groups in the premises. There’s a generous atmosphere pervading the whole place.

Blueprint uses Riso printing which is remarkably eco-friendly, using 90% less energy than photocopying. The ink is made from recycled rice husks, and all the paper is recycled. What’s not to like?

On Blueprint’s fifth anniversary in 2020, they captured the mood of the moment in an exhibition and a 142 page book. Inspired by the never-ending and changing chaos of Leith Walk as the guts of Leith Walk were ripped out in preparation for the trams (remember that?).

It was titled WALK DON’T WALK, the unsubtle instructions at pedestrian crossings in New York. Applying this to Leith Walk, where instructions were changing every day, fitted well.

Then came the Covid lockdowns, which doubled down on contrary instincts and instructions as we were doing our best to comply, a perfect complement to the chosen theme.

For a young person, starting from where they are, to have the opportunity for self-expression, sometimes supported, sometimes guided, sometimes scarily free of boundaries and norms, is an adventure.

There’s nothing like committing yourself to an idea. Then developing it, seeing where it goes. You might already have a route-map in mind, but insights and truths emerge as you go.

You make decisions, discarding possibilities, leaving you wondering what might have been, but the world moves on and you’re stuck with your choices, living with the consequences. It’s a dry run for adult life.

And we all know, don’t we, that inner awareness and confidence is transferable from one activity to another. Self-expression on a page, or within a frame on the wall, or a sculpture on the floor, or playing music, or playing a sport, makes you a more complete person.

You do other things in your life better: a better lover, a better colleague, a better neighbour, a better parent. No energy put into projects of this sort is wasted.

David Bowie used to say it’s better to try and fail than not to try. But nothing is failure in a spirit of honest, vulnerable endeavour. If you don’t acknowledge your vulnerability, your confidence is shaky

Look forward to seeing you at the Expo… let’s talk.

The Winston Smith Library of Victory & Truth + Print Expo 2525