hocus is a screen printing studio that teaches, collaborates, and produces printed textiles with calm precision. working with them felt steady; nothing hurried, every detail and interaction with the material considered, each print guided by a quiet discipline. in this exchange with andrei, he reflects on what this unhurried craft continues to give him.
? how would you describe Hocus to someone who has never encountered your work before?
andrei of hocus: we teach screen printing: we do workshops, we also do collaborative and commissioned works occasionally and produce printed textiles and textile products for retail
? why silk screen? what about this process makes it feel right for the kind of work you do?
andrei of hocus: it's very accessible ie no need for specialized machinery, it's also popular locally. there's no other process that can lay down ink on textiles repetitively in the way that screen printing can. i feel like I’m improvising on very job, it encourages me to be disciplined, resourceful and agile.
? people might think of printing as just reproduction. what do you wish more people understood about silk screen as a craft?
andrei of hocus: reproduction means consistency, and that’s the discipline in printmaking. consistency is landing the same trick 10 out 10 
? when you think about your approach to printing, what matters to you most: is it precision, texture, durability, tactility, something else?
andrei of hocus: all of the above plus consistency. 
? was there anything about working on the Sieve wraps eg the brief, the textures, the story, that resonated with your own way of seeing or making?
andrei of hocus: yes. I like making objects with purpose
? what excites you most about where silk screen can go, or how you might like to keep exploring it in future projects?
andrei of hocus: like to try using screen printing with other processes like dyeing, I like to meet new materials, make new friends hahaha, somehow integrating it with sewing and patternmaking, also making art.
across our conversation, what comes through is andrei’s steady regard for process; the discipline it takes to repeat something well, and the quiet satisfaction of work done with intent. in his practice, at hocus manila, consistency isn’t constraint; it’s care made visible.
our sieve collections' fabric wraps were sourced and printed on by hocus manila
all images above are screen grabs from this social media account
