Printmaking is one of the world oldest art form. Besides painting and sculpture, printmaking became one of the strongest artistic expressions in visual art. In Malaysia, research found that the history of local printmaking began way backs from 1930s in Penang and the development started as a medium of communication. Traditional Intaglio print like etching, aquatint, lithograph or mezzotint and relief print like woodcut, linocut, screenprint and collagraph consider the most democratic medium of visual art because of its multiple editions. A print can be shown at different locations simultaneously and furthermore, its mobility makes it possible to be shipped and transported from place to place.

The nature of printmaking itself is a hybrid between arts and sciences, between aesthetic and technology. Printmaking not only communicating information but also bonding people beyond the physical borders. A printmaker build of persistence and dedication, from woodcut days to innovative processes and technology-based prints, bringing printmaking from the fringes of art into mainstream art.

CHETAK 17 is a printmaking space that presents and preserved print work made by using traditional Printmaking techniques. The core mission for the studio is to preserve and celebrate various intaglio and relief print techniques and increase under standing of printmaking by hosting exhibitions, talks, workshops and residencies. The studio also acts as a meeting space for all printmakers to gather ideas and do things together. Chetak 17 is also providing print consultants for beginners, artists, and art institutions.

The artist-run space was founded in 2017 by Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Samsudin Wahab and Faizal