History
XYLON - International Society of Wood Engravers was founded on September 26, 1953 in Zurich in order to extend the scope of the Swiss society Xylos, founded in 1944.
The Belgian artist Frans Masereel (1889 - 1972) was founding member and first President of XYLON INTERNATIONAL.
Aim
XYLON INTERNATIONAL aims to unite artists from all over the world witch employ the techniques of artistic relief printing and to promote this art.
XYLON INTERNATIONAL is neutral with regards to politics and religion. It accepts all artistic tendencies.
XYLON INTERNATIONAL intends to facilitate communication amongst artists in order to exchange experiences and information.
XYLON INTERNATIONAL organises the international triennials XYLON.
XYLON INTERNATIONAL, originally almost exclusively committed to wood cut and wood engraving (xylon - greek for «wood»), today also includes other block printing techniques regardless of the material used, such as lino, plaster, plastic etc.
Organisation
Autonomous sections which are the base of XYLON INTERNATIONAL at present exists in Argentina, Austria, belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.
The varied activities of the sections include the organisation of exhibitions, also in exchange with other sections, printing shops, organisation of workshops and edition of collectors portfolios, catalogues, periodicals and books.
Triennial XYLON
XYLON INTERNATIONAL organises the international triennials XYLON which traditionaly are also accessible to non-members, not least in order to keep in touch with trends and developments, but also to win new members
XYLON 1 was inaugurated in the «Kunsthalle» Zurich in 1953. Later triennials followed from Geneva, Fribourg and Winterthur.
Since 2005 the triennials are being organised at the «Musée Fernet Branca» in Saint-Louis in France, where XYLON INTERNATIONAL has its domicile.