Artwork
Le Mystere
Le Mystere is an ink print by Lars Birk. It dates from 2010 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The prize lets winners work with print experts to make a new limited-edition piece.
This is a screenprint called *Le Mystere* by Lars Birk. It was made in 2010 as part of a prize for recent art graduates. The print was created during a paid residency at Jealous Print Studio.
The prize lets winners work with print experts to make a new limited-edition piece. These prints get shown together and later donated to museum collections.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more prints like this.
Overview
Le Mystère is a screenprint produced in 2010 by Lars Birk, a recent graduate of Chelsea College of Arts. The work emerged from a residency awarded by Jeopard Print Studio’s Graduate Prize, which supports emerging artists from eight leading London art schools with studio access and mentorship.
Subject & Meaning
The image, titled in French as “The Mystery,” invites contemplation through its abstract composition and layered forms, suggesting an exploration of hidden narratives and visual ambiguity without explicit representational content.
Technique & Style
Created using traditional screen‑printing methods, the piece reflects a careful balance of bold colour blocks and delicate line work. Under the guidance of Jeopard’s print technicians, Birk executed a limited‑edition run, employing precise registration and ink layering typical of contemporary screen‑print practice.
History & Provenance
After completion, the print joined the annual group exhibition of graduate editions organized by Jeopard Print Studio. All works from the program have been donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s print collection, where Le Mystère remains part of the institution’s holdings.
Context
The Graduate Prize, instituted in 2009, selects one MA Fine Art graduate from each of eight major London colleges—including the Royal Academy, RCA, Goldsmiths, Camberwell, Central Saint Martins, the Slade, Chelsea, and Wimbledon—to receive a fully funded studio residency. The initiative aims to bridge academic training and professional printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
This screenprinter built layered cityscapes that feel like coded puzzles. His 2010 print Le Mystere stacks neon grids over midnight skylines, playing with transparency and shadow. Though no movement tag sticks to him,…
