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Born from artist-run culture and the self-publishing scene, the Kuala Lumpur Art Book Fair (KLABF) gathers and fosters individual artists, illustrators, designers, independent publishers, writers, photographers, institutions, and printmakers, who create distinctive art books and prints. Open to the public, the fair will feature a roster of exciting programs including talks, and workshops that will provide a public space for sharing, discussion, and collaboration.
EXHIBITORS 2024 1.3h (ittensanjikan) is a Tokyo-based publishing label and creative studio. Their creations combine editing, designing, programming, and writing to find value in ambiguity. As a publishing label, they also publish “MOUTAKUSANDA!!! magazine” and photo books. Hao Mao Studio was founded in 2018 by creator Chen Yu-Chi, Prior to this venture, she made her mark as “Mi-Zai,” an independent force publishing an enchanting series of comics chronicling life with cats. Moreover, she was at the helm of merchandise design for the acclaimed “Three Cats Club.” Going beyond the realm of comics, her insatiable curiosity and vibrant playfulness have forged an expansive spectrum of artistic styles. 51 Personae is a self-sustaining independent art publishing project, believing that publishing is both an urgent and valid artistic practice. It places special emphasis on life experiences in Asia and the Third World, as well as marginalized voices under suppression, exploring the contemporary forms, possibilities and potential of “realism” in art as expressive actions. ㅂang is a 0o0ne-person independent publishing brand specializing in travel books, and has published 23 original works. Ah Guan, born in Malaysia, developed a strong interest in drawing cartoon characters from a young age. After completing his studies at an art academy, he embarked on a career spanning 13 years in 2D animation concept art and background illustration. He also delved into the world of stop-motion animation, nurturing a fascination for creating figurines. Eventually, he realized his dream of bringing his own character designs to life through resin sculpture, with most of his works receiving intricate hand-painted details. He possesses a deep appreciation for Western artistic styles while incorporating elements of Chinese culture, seamlessly blending the two in his creations. “Experimental comic artist. Expanding the language of comics in various genres such as paintings, animation, typography, ceramic, Augmented Reality. Participated exhibitions and Art book fairs in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, Wien, Berlin, Bangkok, Singapore as well as solo shows in the Nanzuka and ondo galleries. He is chief editor of CHOJIN CLUB. Currently residing in Ehime Japan. Andi Miranti is a young Malaysian author and artist with autism. Diagnosed at age 2, it wasn’t until he was 8 years old that he started developing an interest in drawing, following his older brother Adam’s creativity. At 15, Andi started self-publishing his books about the misadventures of Ned Dickens, the character he developed. His series now has four (soon to be five) published books, and all his works are done by hand. His books are available at Tokusue book store, and online at NakSeni.com and Muzzafar Mart. Anotherandom is a compilation of visuals and writings about depression and anxiety, but not a narrow escape to atone for a missing foundation of positive self-esteem or coping mechanism, but to be aware of your feelings and emotions. Aperture Brought Me Here, is a self-motivated zine enterprise that investigates the relationship between photographic narrative and its conceptual documentary. It is a visual experiment with an attempt to take photography beyond itself, and use communication design to convey the intended narrative through the craft of publication design. The scope of work revolves around a prospect of how a zine could interact with the readers through a series of photographs without an influence of words. A small self-publisher based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. APOB Press makes zines and prints limited-run publications. A-P-O-B stands for “A Piece of Book” which means one page, one story, one zine, and one book. Apoh (Artpohapoh) is a Kuala Lumpur-based Tattoo artist and illustrator, drawing inspiration from the art of Drag and diverse beauty. Through eye-catching visuals, I explore personal struggles and challenge beauty standards, capturing the essence of random objects and personalities. My ongoing “Chubby Girl” & “Babyhead” series sparks conversations and reflects my daily artistic exploration. ASIAN_FOOD_DESIGN is a project initiated by graphic designer and illustrator Takako Masuki, focusing on Asian cuisine. It involves the creation of zines and paintings, other products using the risograph printing technique. Automatism Studio is an art group established in 2023. The term “automatism” originates from physiology, describing bodily movements not under conscious control. Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud utilized free association and unconscious drawing or writing to explore patients’ unconscious psychology and subconscious. As creators, they explore individual and collective behaviors in states of unconsciousness from an artistic perspective. Through visual mediums such as images, installations, and paintings, they aim to document phenomena that escape deliberate actions and conscious intentions. Bang Bang Zine (BBZ) is a zine brand and store dedicated to illustration and risograph, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Founded by Mun Yeong, Shermene, and Chya Chyi, BBZ’s publications mainly feature stories inspired by their observations of everyday life. Since 2017, the brand has expanded to include more printed goods and workshops, while their Zinemate: publishing project has released a diverse collection of zines from local and international creators. As part of the creative risograph studio Inkink Der (IID, est. 2019), BBZ continues to grow as a platform for creative sparks beyond printed matter. Specialised Bookstore for design books and magazines related to Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Graphic Design, Animation, Product Design, Fashion Design, Art & Craft, Typography, and Photography. Betty is an illustrator, designer and tattooist based in Malaysia. Her illustration works and tattoo designs are deeply inspired by traditional Chinese art, infused with a modern twist. Through the use of vibrant colours and intricate motifs, she brings her thoughts and ideas to life. beverage (Grace & Beverley) Grace is a self-taught graphic designer and clipart connoisseur. Grace has gained mastery in making fake t-shirts, zines and posters. When they are not busy thriving in the online realm, Grace is drinking Americanos, collecting peanut butter jars or making pigeons giggle. Beverley Ng is an artist making works in response to our ongoing relationship with technology and the attention economy. She creates with collage and illustration, with the aim of helping others rediscover the joy connecting with each other through printed communication. Binatang Press! is a Jakarta-based small-scale independent publisher. They represent non-mainstream collaborators and bring them to wider audience. They tell stories of what subculture is like in Indonesia, working mostly with independent creative communities around them. Lone Wolf and Club is a fictional universe created by Cardin Phua. It is a universe with tangible connections, from art, sculptures, furnitures to toys and collectibles, all linking back to this imaginative world, with its own Lore, realms and astral guardians. United by a shared passion for streetwear and lifestyle culture. William & Lawrence, both from diverse backgrounds embarked on a remarkable journey deeply immersed in retail. Armed with extensive knowledge of local streetwear brands, their shared interest fueled the creation of Chillsday Club – a curated retail space seamlessly blending diverse cultures, lifestyles, streetwear, art, and design, featuring ASP – A Special Project, an in-house branding and graphic / merchandise design studio for a comprehensive experience under one roof. The Copyright/ Reserved Extensive Object and Publishing bureau was created because what inspired them the most are that when different discipline or person collide and experiment, the result can be extraordinary. In this bureau, they aim to explore the interpretation of “book” and “object” as a medium—an intervening substance, like air, through which a force acts or an effect is produced. Seerat is also known as cybercherryclub and she is a graphic designer from Lahore! Cybercherryclub is her medium to express everything and anything through design. Deeplii Art was founded by Jiayee and Wenhan, an illustrator and graphic designer from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They are passionate about crafting delightful mascots with unique illustration designs and love experimenting with styles to create eye-catching visuals. Specializing in cute, locally-inspired creations, their mission is to design mascots that deeply touch people’s hearts with every new creation. A duo of a photographer and an editor, passionate about capturing scenes, animals, inanimate objects, and people in motion along the way. KL is so much fun, we pack up some of our favorite Taiwanese creators to join the adventure. Def.Good is a letterpress studio specialising in creating crafted printed stationery with a purpose. In collaboration with Persatuan AACE, they design and produce paper goods that not only capture the art of letterpress but also support charitable causes with papers handmade by disbaled. Every purchase contributes to empowering disabled and disadvantaged individuals, allowing them to gain valuable skills and generate income. Detektif Linggam. A man whose job is to help solve problems faced by the B40 group. Diari Seorang Tailor takes a peek into the culture of fashion-making during the 1960s–70s Pop Yeh Yeh heyday through the lens of a tailor, Rahman Saat. The speculative visual diary documents the tailoring business of the musician-turned-tailor who found his niche in dressing performers and musicians. As he chronicles his journey through historical events, his experiences highlight his key position as a tastemaker in Singapore’s entertainment industry and the interconnectedness of music and tailoring cultures. The diary draws upon real stories from conversations with practicing and retired tailors, fashion historical research, and features graphic styles of popular Malay entertainment magazines. They are a design and risograph printing studio based in Hong Kong. Apart from providing printing service, they also share their love and creation through illustration, zines and prints, enjoy the fascination of risograph printing. Du Bút (/you-book/) is a vibrant independent publisher in Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Passionate about comics, they aim to publish a diverse, well-written, and beautifully illustrated portfolio featuring artists from Vietnam and beyond. Their collection ranges from quirky, experimental zines to witty graphic novels and visually stunning art books. Each book from Du Bút is a delightful surprise, possessing an irresistible charm despite their differences. UNITY Macroverse (by ESA Channel) is a story asking the question “how far could Perpaduan in Malaysia take us?” and in an alternate scifi Malaya … Very far. A story where a series of incidents, triggers the United Nations of Earth (UNE) to dispatch a top team led by Olivia Chu, Zulkifli Hassan along with Malayan Rangers to investigate what’s happening. Throughout their mission, matters only get complicated when the politics between Mars and Earth get entangled with greater intrigues of a hidden hand. Based in Tokyo, ephemere. merges gallery and publishing, inspired by “mono no aware,” the Japanese ethos of impermanence. Their motto, “Seeing Through Photography,” breathes life into curated visual narratives—a sanctuary where image-makers bravely share human experiences, from mental health struggles and feelings of loss and love to poignant visual records of real-life stories. Through exhibitions, publications, and soon, workshops, ephemere. fosters a global community that celebrates profound reflections on the human experience within fleeting moments. Extra Credit is an ongoing series of instructional books and zines by Jean Y. Kim. EC editions are teaching tools that for a diverse selection of subjects from coding to Korean culture and fruit. EC zines playfully explore book making, creative coding and RISO printing processes. Each zine plays with pedagogical formats and design to share unique and bright artifacts for readers to enjoy with their hands and learn something new. “Feelers is a research lab of focused on the intersections of art and technology. Their projects are invitations to think critically and empathetically about our world; and to build a community that learns and works together. Feelers is a bid for another world to come into being. Glimpses of it are found in how we sustain ourselves, how we choose to listen instead of turn away, and how we question paradigms of acceleration and extraction. Foreshadow Publishing Group 草蛇灰線 (CN&USA) Foreshadow Pub, which signifies the pursuit of subtle clues beneath the surface, is a publishing group formed by two visual creators with a background in Chinese culture, currently separately residing in the United States and China. Their publications encompass various creative forms such as graphic design, illustration, and editorial work. Their explorations cover a range of topics including but not limited to social issues, feminism, and folk studies. Funky Zine Forest is a group that combines zine works of illustrator Handowin (based in Shanghai) and graphic studio zineforest that is run by Forrest Lau (based in Hong Kong). Handowin is an Illustrator / motion Designer / animator. Zineforest is a visual design studio mainly focused on book/zine design, indie publications(zines) and local creativity supports. We work on commissioned projects for clients. Further Reading is an independent multi-format publishing platform with a production and distribution unit. They seek to engage in discourse within design practices by exploring the wider contexts through various programmed experiences, such as online publication, printed periodicals, pop-ups, and residencies on topics relevant to/within Indonesia, Southeast Asia, as well as globally. The Goethe-Institut Malaysia organizes a wide spectrum of activities in contemporary German culture in cooperation and exchange with Malaysian cultural partners. The language department offers German language courses, international examinations and in-service seminars for teachers and lecturers of German at secondary and tertiary levels. In the language media centre of the Goethe-Institute Malaysia, books and media stocks are available for those interested in learning or teaching German. Individual research work can be implemented at internet workstations. A graphic designer, photography enthusiast, and lifelong wanderer. Leaving my home in Langkawi for the city, with all its uncertainties and struggles seemed like a bad idea. But it’s precisely this difficult journey that will make it all worthwhile. Grafis Nusantara is a platform dedicated to archiving vintage Indonesian labels and stickers – presenting the archipelago’s lavish visuals and their significance as knowledge and reference materials. Grafis Nusantara caters as a space to give Indonesian vintage visuals chances to be appreciated. Furthermore, easy access to social media and digital archives opens up new opportunities to collect more Indonesian graphic artefacts through social curation. Publish Art book/Zine and more. GUYDES operates a Risograph studio in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan, publishing guidebooks themed ‘Guidebooks from Your Future Friend,’ focused on connecting with local people. The series features 10 ZINEs, each dedicated to an artist living in Onomichi, showcasing their work, daily life, and personal guides to the area. The ZINEs are bilingual, offering content in English and Japanese. Halftime Speech, initiated by Petrikor Books, is a dynamic project that celebrates the spirit of football and its broader cultural impact. This initiative goes beyond the game itself, exploring the rich narratives, emotions, and stories that football inspires. Halftime Speech aims to capture the essence of football as a universal language that unites people across different backgrounds. This project is a tribute to the passion, history, and social significance of football, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beautiful game and its role in shaping our lives. HASURISO is an RISO printing service studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where everyone can create and experience unique RISO artworks. Vanissa Foo is a Kuala Lumpur-based graphic designer & illustrator. Her creative persona, ‘Humana,’ allows her to tell imaginative stories and explore her creative fantasies. Inspired by Bauhaus geometry and bold colors, her designs bring ordinary scenes to life, depicting Humana’s vibrant and whimsical world. Hung Man Po is a visual artist and designer, who finds profound inspiration in the vibrant tapestry of the community and its people. His creative journey has led him to recognize the deep interconnection between artists and the communities they inhabit.n his distinctive ukiyo-e style paintings, Hung Man Po captures the diverse human experiences within the Hong Kong community, forging a sincere and profound connection. “Huruf is a type and design collective that seeks to encourage awareness of and discourse on typography in Malaysia. Huruf has developed projects that investigate vernacular typography, local typographic heritage and multilingualism. Working at the intersection of design and pedagogy, Huruf is active in organising workshops and talks to facilitate knowledge exchange among type enthusiasts. Founded by Tan Sueh Li in 2017, Huruf has since grown to include an eclectic mix of creatives including Tan Zi Hao, David Ho Ming Aun, Fam Kai-Cong, and Louie Lee Wei Yi. Inkling Studio, a creative venture established in 2020 by Zhao Hong and Shin Chi in Penang, Malaysia. Here, they proudly wear the hats of a Risograph micro-press, independent publisher, and illustration studio, weaving stories and adventures through their artistic journey, known affectionately as Our Riso Saga. As independent publishers driven by a passion for rare literary finds, they craft captivating comics and stories using Risograph printing, collaborating with diverse talents to create enchanting narratives and share their love for Riso. ISLANDERS島民 is a social enterprise based in Peng Chau, Hong Kong that carries research and cultural work to understand how they can live on islands respecting the land, the people who were here before them, and their cultures. Yap Jiaern is a Kuala Lumpur-based graphic designer and illustrator who was born in 1997. She observes everyday life with her unique perspective, and translate her feelings into visuals with sentimental touch. KALEIDOSCPOE was founded in 2024 and is a new brand based in Seoul, dedicated to providing a platform for artists to share their works. Kape Mart is a collective store from Bandung, Indonesia, selling gifts, vintage tees, and collectible items. Rooted in street culture, they thrive within their community and ecosystem. Through Kape Hood Connection, they support local artists and street art, especially graffiti, with zines, merchandise, and projects. They foster a mutualistic relationship with their community to ensure their collective’s longevity. By releasing zines and hosting exhibitions, they keep their culture alive and accessible. Beyond selling items, they prioritize meaningful connections with customers and collective members, ensuring a sense of belonging and interconnection. “Lisa Goh is a full-time illustrator based in Kuala Lumpur. Her work is an ongoing exploration of the delicate interplay between inner and outer worlds. Her illustrations are born from the moments of daily life, personal introspections, and a profound yearning for escape into the embrace of nature. While her art is often vibrant, it serves as a gateway to deeper, often unspoken themes of solitude, stillness, and silence. Each piece is layered with stories and details, offering an invitation for viewers to embark on their own journeys of interpretation and emotional connection. ke lian de ke is a collective consisting of doomed architecture-adjacent creative workers exploring critical writings, photography, drawings, and imaginary projects. Their collective currently consists of students and lecturers from Malaysian Institute of Art. They are interested in observations, praises and critique of the city and the life that goes on within it. Whilst they are actively teaching and practicing architecture, they see this platform as a way of exploring ideas that could never be accepted or executed within their profession. Since 2017 a photographer who records nature with his own subject under the theme of “Nature Portrait”. Kongsi is a branding agency based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Founded in 2013, they have grown into a multidisciplinary creative team driven by passionate thinkers and designers. Great things can never be accomplished by one person. That’s why they call themselves “一 亻一半 Kongsi” (to share), where they embrace the idea that halves come together to make a whole in a relationship. Together, they kongsi ideas, kongsi tangan, kongsi watak, and kongsi dreams. KOSEKO DESIGN&PRESS is an experimental graphic design studio based in Kyoto Japan by Tomoyuki Koseko and Yafa Koseko, specializing in visual communication design. Inspired by psychology, philosophy, and semiotics, they conduct design research related to biological mimicry and visual perception. They showcase their visualizations through participation in world’s art book fairs and exhibitions. Some recent exhibitions include KG+ semi-fiction (2023, Kyoto) and Astronomy in Breakfast (2022, Shenzhen). They also won the EricZhu Jury Prize at UNKNOWN ASIA in 2020. La Mondo is a fluid artist group, with the intention to stir up a little bit more feelings in the audience through art projects. Founded in 2021, the first project by La Mondo is “FoooART” and has shown at the 2022 TANK Art Festival, art residency at the Linden Centre, and held a pop-up event in the space of Gladstone Gallery during the 2022 Gallery Weekend Beijing. Recently, members of La Mondo have published a new travel series “Walking Class”, with the city Hong Kong and Seoul as the first two zines. In additions, La Mondo also works with performances, artists’ books, videos, and various mediums. Lee Sean is a graphic designer with a passion for photography and book design. He finds his peace through walking around aimlessly, observing his surroundings. His work offers a glimpse of his inner world, reflecting the conversations he has with himself daily. Through his creations, he hopes to bring comfort to others. Even if it brings just one second of peace to someone, that could just be enough. Libro Arte is an independent publisher founded in Tokyo in 2008. They have published many books, mainly on photography. They support the publication and exhibition of photobooks by promising photographers both in Japan and overseas. They actively participate in book fairs in Paris, Amsterdam, Geneva and China. Recently, they have started distributing overseas photobooks and introducing them in Japan. Lizzie Zany is an artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and art director with over 8 years in the industry. Passionate about creativity and community, she co-founded the all-women collective Kekabumi, collaborating with artists like Lunadira, LUST, and Spooky Wet Dreams. Lizzie has worked with brands like Vans and Astro, blending pop culture with deeper explorations of soul and wisdom, often reflected in childlike art. Lon Xon is a young risograph studio and a design collective in the heart of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Inspired by the the rivers, the cultural and ecological diversity of the Mekong Delta, Lon Xon focuses on producing zines, books and micro-editions in collaboration with local artists. Lon Xon’s aim is to showcase local artists as well as document as much as possible about the rich tapestry of life from this litte known corner of South East Asia. LOST is a magazine about self-discovery through travel. It is a magazine that features real stories, personal reflections and epiphanies from people around the world. It believes that travel isn’t about fancy hotels or tourist destinations, but about immersing oneself in someplace entirely foreign to feel extremely uncomfortable so that one can learn from it. It believes that travel is a state of mind. Inspired by the simple things in life, they curate a thoughtful collection of contemporary design objects and unique books that are hard to find in the market. Specializing in lifestyle, travel and craft, their collection reflects clarity and intergrity at its core. Every item, from modern products honoring the past to books offering fresh perspectives, is carefully chosen -celebrating the essence of good design and storytelling. Mashpatooties/ Riynn Lee is a self-taught illustrator who enjoys telling stories that are inspired by real life experiences and fairy tales she has read as a child. Through genuine story telling, either in the form of words or illustrations, she’s able to make sense of the ups and downs in life and also to inspire others. It is also through art that she’s able to find her voice and share her inner thoughts. Mellow Yue Li is an award-winning illustration artist based in New York and Shanghai. Her works often explore her journey towards nature, plants, spirituality and romanticism under a variety of cultural contexts. Her clients include ‘Khruangbin’, ‘Mossery’, ‘Popsockets’, ‘This Is Mold’, etc. She has also received interviews worldwide, including ‘It’s Nice That’, ‘Metal Magazine’, ‘Creative Boom’. She sees drawing as her most genuine way of expression, and she believes that only by putting her heart into image-making, can she create powerful works that touches people’s heart. MFYG (Magazine for Young Girls) is founded by stylist and image maker Wei Ting Wong (SG) with Creative Direction and design by Boah Kim (FR). MFYG is a feminist publication that explores the possibilities of what a “young girl” can be; regardless of age, gender and race through the lens of fashion, art, music and pop culture. The magazine features Asian and diaspora voices from around the world and instigates collaborations that explore fashion content that builds new, feminist narratives. Issue 02 interprets the theme of “adulting” as performing acts of care in our daily lives. Founded in 2009, MISS READ has become integral to the international art publishing landscape. It provides a forum for dialogue on artists’ books and publishing as artistic and political practice. The festival’s mission embraces global bibliodiversity, nurturing creative ecosystems and pushing publishing’s frontiers. Money Wang is textile and print designer based in Seremban, who graduated from Central Saint Martins with a degree in textile design. Money’s practice has since ventured from designing prints to wearable sculptures and installations. Experimentation and playfulness sit at the heart of his works, often oscillating between various media. Money’s practice doubles as a source of meditative comfort amidst uncertainty. MOSH MOSH BOOKS by Yukihiro Tada (JP) YUKIHIRO TADA is an Illustrator, Comic artist, Character designer in Japan. One of his representative works is a character illustration, Mosh series. He hold exhibitions and workshops not only in Japan but also in Korea, Taiwan Germany, etc. [MOSH MOSH BOOKS] is a book label in Osaka that deals with Yukihiro Tada’s art books, comics, zine, and prints. MY XIAOXIAO is an experimental visual lab by STUDIO KEKFENG. They create engaging content. As long as it’s fun and positive, they will bring it to life! Nadhir Nor is an illustrator from Malaysia whose work revolves around mythology, lost traditions and all things otherworldly. nas.fai nas & fai are two creatures of habit. She draws. He writes. They both enjoy sitting in long silence together, while watching other people, watching other people. Their body of work is an interpretation of finding comfort in the stillness of a quiet monotony, coming to admission through the parallels between un-monotonous palettes and vivid verses. “Ninnin is a design studio founded by graphic designer Yuko Koike and type designer Zin Nagao in Japan. Onomino Collective is a three-person illustration team featuring Bear Yen, Mongo Wang, and Jia Wei. Their works use delightful colors and lines to share a sense of humor. They offer a variety of zines, prints, postcards, and limited products. otto was founded in 2017 by Tiffany Tam (TT) and Wong Mei Yin (OO) in Hong Kong . TT is currently based in Hong Kong and OO is currently based in Sapporo. otto aims at reading, observing, and sharing together. They publish zines and printed matters. They published 6 issues of otto in the past few years. Pixie Tan is an art director and educator from Singapore, firmly believing in the power of people and collaborations. She uses publishing as a tool to crowd-source wisdom, resources, sentiments, and know-how to uplift communities. PLATES’ is an international award-winning print journal that uses food themes to begin conversations. Founded in Kuala Lumpur, ‘PLATES’ is an independent one-woman run publication that explores overlooked human stories that are hyperlocal yet globally relevant. Looking through a Southeast Asian lens, ‘PLATES’ replates seemingly overwhelming meatier issues into more relatable and digestible formats for a restless audience to chew on. Popa Nota is a pop-up and paper engineering initiative by David Ho. His works feature a unique blend of graphic design and paper engineering, aiming to bring the joy and wonder of pop-up artistry to everyone. “Possessed Planets”” is a collective of disillusioned overachievers and shapeshifters, inspired by alien and extraterrestrial themes. They thrive in the self-publishing and small press arenas, pushing the boundaries of our world to explore other realms. They are committed to inclusivity and accessibility, welcoming all forms of creative participation. Process Magazine is an independent print magazine based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The magazine covers Southeast Asian creative practitioners through long-form interviews and film photography. Projek SembangSembang makes merchandise, they design dreamily and they write wittily as they create quirky, relatable art for you to adore. You may identify them through their signature look of contemporary pop illustrations with funky handmade font, you won’t get elsewhere. Nothing feels better than creating things they love for you to love – all of them are exclusively designed and made by Projek SembangSembang. Quality fun guaranteed! Putticoop is a multidisciplinary design powerhouse, thriving at the nexus of art, architecture, branding, stage design, and exhibitions. Helmed by the visionary Hung Man Po, an illustrator and brand designer from Hong Kong, and the ingenious Lian Kian Lek, a Kuala Lumpur-based architect and artist, this dynamic duo has been crafting bold visual identities and transformative key visuals for arts festivals since 2018. Their collaborative synergy redefines creative boundaries, making Putticoop a beacon of innovative design. Where design, research and identity intersect, R+ dissects — that is, all the time. Out of a background of cultural nuances and changing statistics, their practice foregrounds the relatable, the relevant and the real. They bridge gaps with a discourse delivered by multiple means of dialogue; Events. Exhibitions. Publications. And to do it all while being sensitive and clear-cut? Sounds like an R+ strategy. R+ is a strategic design and research unit of GDP Architects. Rakel embodies Celcea Tifani’s venture into graphic design, which revolves around exploration of mediums like texture, form, experience, and the emotional impact within the realm of prints. Rakel, meaning “squeegee” in Indonesian, is just one tool among many used in the process of print-making. However, it holds a crucial position in converting abstract ideas into concrete printed visuals—an embodiment of the core essence she strives to communicate through this artistic journey. RingoSpace, located in Hangzhou, China, is an independent art space with a showroom, reading room, and product area. It focuses on the thinking and expression of independent creators for a long time and builds a platform for self-expression with works. RJ Paper is a paper & materials supplier offering a wide range of eco-friendly papers for packaging, publications, F & B, crafts, brochures, folders, and many more. They are the trusted partner for thousands of designers, creators, artists and makers since 1987. For decades, their personal touch to customers and attention to materiality have positioned them right at the heart of creative communities and their projects. Robineggpie is currently writing a book about the adventures of the protagonist ’33’. He has also created artist books featuring themes like Birth, Dream, Choice, Faith, and Sin. His work is showcased at domestic and international art book fairs in Taipei, Singapore, Berlin, and Beijing. Since 2021, he has been increasing his media presence with solo exhibitions. Ruammitr (RUAM-MIT) is a collective of Bangkok-based creatives formed in 2021. Locally, “Ruammitr” is known as an iced dessert comprised of assorted condiments floating in flower-fragrant coconut water. The compound of “Ruam” meaning to collect, “Mitr” meaning friend or buddy, defines our gathering; a flavorful mix of designers and artists from varied disciplines. As a collective, they explore the way their art interacts with the printed matter. All their works are self-bounded and self-published under Ruammitr Collective Press. For the past two years, their collective has participated in Bangkok Art Book Fair 2023 and 2024. sankaku is a print publication celebrating people and craft. Each book explores the depths of a single subject, highlighting uncommon narratives at the intersection of culture, design, and community. Their stories begin in Japan, with an eye to the world beyond its borders. Shan Shan & Sherwan Shan Shan Lim & Sherwan Rozan are two Malaysian creative friends with a working portfolio that spans various mediums from textile artworks and sustainable fabrics to hand-painted murals and art prints respectively. Although their bodies of work range relatively different individually – Shan Shan (Textile Designer) and Sherwan (Graphic Artist) both share a collective pursuit and passion in the harmony of shapes and colours. Shuuhuahua is a Penang-born artist, illustrator, and graphic designer based in Kuala Lumpur. Her artwork blends eccentricity with quirky elements, reflecting her observations. She views zines, art books, and publications as dynamic forms, experimenting with open formats and folding structures to push the boundaries of visual storytelling. Simblings is a sibling trio that consists of Bradley, Olivia and Wei Wei who explores the world around us through the mediums of photography, design, poetry, illustration and writing. Indy, 23, is an Indonesian illustrator based in Kuala Lumpur. She created 2 brands that truly reflects herself, Slightlyfancy and Totlings. With Slightly Fancy, she express the femininity, confidence, and innocence of women in her illustrations sprinkled with the vibrant colors of risograph. She created Totlings in 2023 to explore her relationship with her thoughts and memories. She gave her thoughts a physical form, to ensure that they will never be lost in the void. Totlings currently focus on creating designer toys, merchandise and apparel, with a story book in the works. Indy has exhibited her works in a couple of events locally and internationally before, like KL Illustration Fair, KL Art Book Fair, Taipei Toy Festival, and Thailand Toy Expo. Sojanggak, the house of small books, is a design studio and publishing house. Focusing on the ‘out of sight’, Sojanggak creates beautiful books that capture the original culture and stories of the people who live around us. SPESU EKI is a group of illustrators from Malaysia who love 1980s Japanese games and entertainment, creating fun illustrations inspired by that golden era. Suburbia Projects is an architecture books retailer and publisher based out in the suburbs of Petaling Jaya. Founded in 2020 by Ashran Bahari and Naadiya Hani, Suburbia Projects aims to fill the gaps in critical and meaningful publications in architecture with a strong focus on virtues and values over aesthetics. Their books are distributed worldwide by IdeaBooks. SUPER BORING&KJのANIMAMUCSIIII (TW) Sp and KJ, graphic designers and visual artists from Taiwan, are committed to delving into the beauty of Asian subcultures. They translate their work into various forms such as art books, zines, posters, stickers, and print designs. Tara Books is a collective of writers, designers and bookmakers, publishing illustrated books for ‘children and adults’. They work with ‘indigenous artists’ from across India and creative professionals across the world. Known for their richly ‘visual content’, they offer a curated list that includes ‘children’s literature, photography, graphic novels, art and art education’. Their ‘books made entirely by hand’ have found their way to readers around the world. Tara has also won over 80 international awards, including the ‘Bologna Ragazzi award’ for the ‘Best Children’s Publisher in Asia’ and the ‘London Book Fair International Book Industry Excellence Award’. The Living Room is a small independent press from Singapore, established in 2024. Composed of creatives in diverse practices, the one thing that the 4 members of The Living Room have in common is their spirit of experimentation and the drive to explore their subjective realities through Art. Emphasizing their diverse creative practices, they created The Living Room as a shared space where everyone can gather and make anything happen, just like a living room in every house! The Lostprints Community ignites the art of printmaking and letterpress in contemporary times. The Sandwich Club is a bookmaking studio/artist book publisher/risograph press. Based in London, they collaborate with and publish works for artists of different fields to share stories, visuals, and cultures across the world. They also focus on risograph printing and bookbinding, as all their books are handbound and printed by themselves in house. The Slow Press (est. 2021) is an independent food magazine based in Singapore that is fixated on the rich stories behind what we eat. Through longform journalism, design, illustration, and photography, the magazine seeks to bring Singapore’s vibrant food heritage to the foreground in an introspective, yet quirky and fun way. They want to shed light on the ways of looking at food to help you truly appreciate the goodness that goes into your stomach. three³ (wailun/jia ying/venny) Formed on a whim, three³ is a small and temporary collective of 3 designers. With a passion for art, design, and all things in between, they embrace the quiet moments between their regular work and everyday routines to create pieces that they find peaceful and fulfilling. ‘tiệm,’ (pronounced as /team/) began as a art merchandise brand, aiming to bring meaningful messages and captivating stories to life. ‘tiệm,’ blend both visual artistry and thoughtful words in every products, offering a range of content from humor to healing. tiệm,’s mission is to create unique items that resonate deeply with customers, making each piece a memorable experience.In 2024, with a desire to explore a new field and share more stories, ‘tiệm,’ is venturing into independent publishing with many new zines to come in the future. v4ng0th finds comfort in illustrating tender, eerie images…. also exploring various mediums at the moment apart from digital art (3D, sculpting, airbrushing) A fragmented form of expression, combining everyday photos, drawings, and writings into a tangible book that captures emotions. She simply wants to be an honest person. WEDOGOOD is a Risograph creative studio and indie publishing house based in Saigon, Vietnam. Their interest is in visual exploration, creative narrative, and outlandish humor in the format of printed matters. They offer Risograph printing solutions and service while also looking for exciting collaboration opportunities from artists. Willwin Yang is a illustrator with a deep love for food and all things vintage, specialises in blending the charm of bygone eras with modern topics. She draws inspiration from a wide array of sources, from the alluring vintage magazines to the playful movie posters. Willwin’s secret ingredient lies in her adept use of textures and halftones, seamlessly melding styles from different historical periods and cultures. x_x is the excuse to meet and exchange learning, travel, anecdotes and adventures among friends. It is a small publishing house that has its own riso and screen printing workshop, although due to its itinerant and unstable nature, it also works a lot in borrowed workshops, spaces for friends and reconfigured corners of hostels, borrowed houses, bars or squares. The idea is to tell in a fanciful, colorful and somewhat lying way our passage through this sick and sad world in media such as fanzines, prints, t-shirts, pins, books, etc. Zee is a self-taught artist-poet based in Kuala Lumpur. Often described as healing, mindful, and meditative, her work is primarily driven by her spiritual practice, her intimate connection with nature, and how she experiences the world; a collection of her emotions, feelings, conscious, subconscious thoughts, intuition, and sensory connection. Zontiga is a creative hub for photography enthusiast. They offer film processing and scanning services, giclee printing, have photobooks, prints and merchandise for sale, and their photobook library is open to all. They also publish photobooks, organise exhibitions, workshops, talks and events, and hope to inspire more individuals to embrace photography in its tangible form.
We always focus on visual identity, graphic images, packages, and wayfinding separately. Their art books are experimental results of the typography, design, and illustration trial.
On occasion of the 14th edition of TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR (“TABF”), set to be held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo from November 28 (Thu) to December 1 (Sun), Miss Read Posters from 2009-2024 will be shown.
MISS READ: The Berlin Art Book Fair & Festival 2024 takes place annually in Berlin. In 2024 it hosted over 340 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, consolidating its position as one of the largest and most diverse global art book fairs with an unparalleled breadth of international representation. Founded in 2009, MISS READ is dedicated to building a community and creating a public meeting place for discourse around artists’ books, conceptual publications and publishing as artistic and political practice.
A new poster of Miss Read is created every year by another artist: Miss Read posters have been created by Aziza Ahmad, Natalie Czech, Maira Fragoso Peña, Karl Holmqvist, Åse Eg Jørgensen, Achim Lengerer, Michalis Pichler, rakete/Erik Steinbrecher, Jay Ramier, Cia Rinne, and Lawrence Weiner.
Besides posters, the exhibition “MISS READ posters &, from 2009-2024" will feature a handful of video interviews conducted by Miss Read with protagonists in the field of publishing as artistic practice, and also books published by Miss Read. Among them will be "Decolonizing Art Book Fairs" and "Publishing Manifestos", part of which is being translated in Japanese on the occasion of Tokyo Art Book Fair 2024.
Dates: 12:00-19:00, November 28 (Thu), 2024
11:00-18:00, November 29 (Fri) – Decemer 1 (Sun), 2024
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Address: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0022
Official website: https://tokyoartbookfair.com/en/
The 14th edition of TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR (“TABF”) is taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo from November 28 (Thu) to December 1 (Sun).
Dates: 12:00-19:00, November 28 (Thu), 2024
11:00-18:00, November 29 (Fri) – Decemer 1 (Sun), 2024
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Address: 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0022
Official website: https://tokyoartbookfair.com/en/
The exhibition “German Book Store,” which offers a glimpse into the contemporary art book scene in Germany, will be a showcase of art books and zines selected by Stefan Marx, Tenko Nakajima, Studio Yukiko, do you read me?! and Michalis Pichler. This selection, made from different vantage points of innovative creatives, will create an opportunity for visitors to experience the diversity of German art books and zines.
Stefan Marx is a German contemporary artist recognized for his distinctive line drawings, typeworks and artist books. Born in 1979, Marx draws heavily from subcultures such as music, zine making and changing environments by traveling, often infusing his work with a whimsical yet thought-provoking quality. His drawings revolve around simple yet expressive linework paired with handwritten text, frequently offering humorous or reflective commentary on our lifes. In addition to his work on paper and canvas, Marx is deeply involved in zine and artist book culture, creating numerous self-published artist books and collaborating with independent publishers and galleries. His collaborations extend to the fashion world, with brands like Comme des Garcons and The Ennoy Professional, as well as musicians and record labels. Marx's work has been exhibited internationally, from galleries to major art fairs, and he remains an influential figure in blending artistic expression with pop and youth culture influences.
Tenko Nakajima is a German-Japanese curator and gallerist. In 2022, she founded Galerie Tenko Presents, a nomadic gallery dedicated to showcasing both Japanese and international artists through site-specific exhibitions in Tokyo and abroad. By embracing a nomadic model, Nakajima bridges the Japanese and global art scenes, whilst also challenging the conventional model of an art gallery. Her recent exhibitions feature artists, including Billy Coulthurst, Coumba Samba, Raiki Yamamoto, Morag Keil, Nicolas Ceccaldi, and Thomas Capdeville. She has also taken part in art fairs, such as Art Collaboration Kyoto 2024, where she presented works by Klara Liden, Peter Fischli, Emily Sundblad, and Alan Michael and Material 2024.
Studio Yukiko is a Berlin-based creative agency founded by Michelle Phillips and Johannes Conrad, specializing in creative direction, art direction, brand strategy, concept generation and graphic design for commercial and cultural clients alike. The studio produces award-winning work, unearthing narratives, telling stories of local communities worldwide, and immerses themselves in the trends of internet and youth culture. With its research arm, Yukiko continually experiments with contemporary forms of visual storytelling and fosters a deeper understanding of the audiences with which its projects engage. Yukiko’s work has been awarded by D&AD, ADC Germany, TDC New York and Lead Awards, among others.
Founded in Berlin in 2008, do you read me?! is an internationally renowned haven for book and magazine enthusiasts. The little shop boasts an inspiring curation of printed matter, catering to the diverse tastes of print aficionados. From publications on art, photography, design and typography to fashion, architecture, literature, music, film and food, do you read me?! offers a captivating panorama of contemporary independent publishing.
Michalis Pichler, Self-portrait as someone else, 2023, Oil on Canvas, 67 x 80 cm (twice)
The painted book in front of the painted mirrow features another Self-portrait as someone else. In this case, presumably Cavafy.
Michalis Pichler is an artist primarily operating independent from the commercial gallery system, and a founder and director of Miss Read and Conceptual Poetics Day. He has published numerous bookworks, uses canvases as pages for art works (and vice versa), and has invented rectoverso collage and objet perdu.
Recently co-edited books include Decolonizing Art Book Fairs (Afrikadaa/Mosaiques/Miss Read, 2021) and WAVES: Radio as collective Imagination (Miss Read, 2024). Recently edited books include IDEA POLL (Miss Read, 2021) and Coup de Dés (Collection)-Books and Ideas after Mallarmé (Spector Books/Center for Book Arts, 2024). A monograph of his practice was co-published by Spector Books and Printed Matter, Inc.
MISS READ: The Berlin Art Book Fair & Festival 2024 takes place from October 11–13 at HKW (Haus der Kulturen der Welt), hosting over 340 exhibitors from more than 50 countriesconsolidating its position as one of the largest and most diverse global art book fairs with an unparalleled breadth of international representation. The full list of all exhibitors can be found here.
Founded in 2009, MISS READ has become integral to the international art publishing landscape. It provides a forum for dialogue on artists’ books and publishing as artistic and political practice. The festival’s mission embraces global bibliodiversity, nurturing creative ecosystems and pushing publishing’s frontiers.
MISS READ’s cornerstone philosophy of Decolonizing Art Book Fairs was part of several years of collective efforts and together with curator Anguezomo Nzé Mba Bikoro and co-director Pascale Obolo now introduces Afro-feminist and Queer Voices, genealogies in lesser-known parts of German history, charting different mo(ve)ments through music, literature and film that connect with the lineage of Black cultural and queer activists of the last 70 years. The festival provides a space to examine Afro-feminist legacies through panel talks, music performances, film screenings and workshops. With contributions from Mame-Fatou Niang, Natasha A. Kelly, Peggy Piesche, Ndeye Fatou Kane, String Archestra, Marianne Ballé Moudoumbou, Yezenia León Mezu, Jennifer Kamau, Savanna Morgan, House of Living Colours, Maimouna Coulibaly, Stefanie-Lahya Aukongo, Chantal-Fleur Sandjon, Mmakhotso Lamola, Mihret Kebede, Aline Benecke, FrauHerr Meko, DJ Njeri and many others.
MISS READ once again awards its BIPOC Support Grant to exceptional artists and small and upcoming independent publishers. We are honoured to recognize this year’s outstanding recipients: House of INVADE- (Johannesburg), 24˚36˚ (London), aka TAWLA (Southwest Asia and North Africa region), B and D Press (Montreal), and Reliable Copy (Bangalore).
The annual Conceptual Poetics Day on Saturday explores the imaginary border between visual art and literature. Conceptual artist Adrian Piper whose work addresses themes of race, gender, and identity, has created the poster for Conceptual Poetics Day. Her involvement aligns with the fair’s focus on Afro-Feminism, as Piper’s art challenges social norms and encourages viewers to confront their prejudices.
Some highlights of the daily programme include:
On Friday, October 11: The panel “Who will still recognise them when the earth shakes on the last day: On Afro-feminist genealogies” with participants Mame-Fatou Niang, Natasha A. Kelly, Peggy Piesche and Ndeye Fatou Kane and moderator Anguezomo Nzé Mba Bikorointroduces the focus theme of this year’s edition of MISS READ and explores the life, activism and legacy of Liberian-German singer-songwriter Fasia Jansen and her influence on German Afro-feminism. The stage program concludes with a concert by String Archestra.
Starting at 9pm, the opening party will kick off this year’s edition of MISS READ with DJs Gayture, DJ Njeri and Radio Nopal. Dance, mingle and toast to the start of another vibrant and exciting edition of the fair and festival.
On Saturday, October 12: Paul Wood in conversation with his publisher Sezgin Boynik ofRab Rab Press, presents Biting the Hand: Traces of Resistance in the Art & Language Diaspora, a book that tells the story of a dissident formation of artists active in the UK in the 1970s and 80s.
Archival Textures conducts “A Conversation on Publishing Archival Traces of Transnational Queer Feminist Solidarity” with Tamara Hartman and Tabea Nixdorff exploring queer feminist archives. A special focus will be set on the most recent publication Republishing: Umoja Zwarte Vrouwenkrant, a book that derived from the Black Women’s Magazine Umoja, published between 1985 and 1986 in Arnhem, the Netherlands.
“Make A Zine With Your Ex: Overview and Workshop of Break-Up Zines”: MISS READ’s last year BIPOC award winner Arantza Peña Popo together with Anthi Sklavenitis conducts this workshop: Breakups are cruel, universal parts of our lives that often fuel the very zines that we pick up at art book fairs. During the workshop, in a collaborative experience, participants will create their own breakup zines through randomly selected prompts and ideas to interrogate their breakups, whether romantic or platonic.
A roundtable under the title “To the furthest edge where our freedom begins: Afro-feminist collective struggles” with Marianne Ballé Moudoumbou,Yezenia León Mezu and Jennifer Kamau will discuss how transglobal connections of Black women collectives, despite their differences, contribute to the common and uncommon struggle to redefine Afro-feminism and fight for the liberation of Black women: from the Black women of the Black Panther Party, Combahee River Collective, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, Riverwood (KEN) to ADEFRA.
On Sunday, October 13: Humdrum Press and the Journal of Aesthetics & Protest celebrate a double book launch with Utterances: Composing a Care-Informed Research Practice in the Cracks and Promiscuous Infrastructures: Practicing Care in a panel talk headlined “Reading Methodologies for/of Care” and moderated by Amy Gowen, Marc Herbst and Michelle Teran.
Colorama presents “2ly: an exchange of letters of two pairs between London and Leipzig”—a reading and visual showcase of letters exchanged between artist duos in London and Leipzig. Join for selected readings, projections, and a discussion on female* collaborations, design-writing intersections, and shared authorship in contemporary art.
The complete program schedule can be found here.
Collaborative Radio Programme: MISS READ radio X lumbung radio presents the pre-fair program at MISS READ SPACE in Wedding (October 6-10). This week-long event features radio and exciting on-site activities, including workshops, presentations, publisher lectures, book launches, and sound/radio-art performances, streamed live on both websites. lumbung radio activates the space before the HKW fair, inviting international radio actors such as Radio Nopal (MX) and Berlin-based collaborators such as Cashmere Radio and SAVVY Contemporary. The radio programme can be found here.
MISS READ and lumbung radio reflect on radio and audio practices, their infrastructures, modes of collaboration and situated knowledge in written, visual and sonic form in their new publication “Waves: Radio as Collective Imagination”. Details on the book can be found here.
MISS READ 2024 team
Founder & Director: Michalis Pichler / Co-Director: Pascale Obolo / Focus Co-Curator: Anguezomo Nzé Mba Bikoro / Program Manager: Julia Gwendolyn Schneider / Production Manager: Derya Türkmen / Production Coordinator: Federica Crescenzi / Radio Coordinators: Station of Commons, Grégoire Rousseau, Eddie Choo Wen Yi, Mathilde Palenius/ Design & Social Media Manager: Maira Fragoso Peña / Public Relations & Press: Safia Dickersbach
The poster of MISS READ 2024 is created by Maira Fragoso Peña. The poster of Conceptual Poetics Day is created by Adrian Piper.
MISS READ and Conceptual Poetics Day 2024 are funded by Hauptstadtkulturfonds. Station of Commons and lumbung radio are supported by Kone foundation and Culture Moves Europe funded by the European Union.
Special thanks
Alina Baris, Yaiza Camps, Lale de Boer, Nils-Philipp Dommert, Chiara Figone, Juan Gomez, Moritz Grünke, Misaki Kawabe, Liz Koehnke, Georgios Kontopoulos, Lilofee Labes, Siddhartha Lokanandi, Eric Otieno, Bona-venture Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Essi Pellikka, Adrian Piper, Peter Schmidt, Nadine Siegert, Wanda Spangenberg, Sulti (†) and Parfait Tabapsi
For press inquiries, please contact: press [at] missread.com
#missreadberlin #missread2024 #missread
An Art Book Fair of Art Book Fairs
Join us at Ca’Buccari for the Venice edition of the Mexico City-based Index Art Book Fair, with a new and unprecedented format: an Art Book Fair of Art Book Fairs!
For their inaugural Venice edition, Index Art Book Fair will bring sixteen art book fairs from around the world presenting their personal selection of art and artists publications, accompanied by an exciting public program.
Opening hours:
Thursday 4-8pm
Friday-Saturday, 12-8pm
Sunday, 12-7pm
Index Art Book Fair (MX)
African Art Book Fair (Dakar, SN)
An Independent Book Fair (Tirana, ALI)
Arts of the Working Class (Berlin, DE)
Bergen Art Book Fair (Bergen, NO)
Books are Bridges (Rotterdam, NL)
Borderless (Istanbul, TR)
Cairo Art Book Fair (Cairo, EG)
Fair Enough (Tallín, EE)
I Never Read (Basel, CH)
Libros Mutantes (Madrid, ES)
Miss Read (Berlin, DE)
OAZA Collectiv (Zagreb, HR)
Taipei Art Book Fair (Taipei, TW)
Yogyakarta Art Book Fair (Yogyakarta, ID)
MULTIPLE ART DAYS becomes (Made Anywhere), a new scene of artistic publishing practices dedicated to objects with poetic reaction.
(Made Anywhere) responds to a need for encounters around objects that are sources of inspiration, creation, collection and observation; a decompartmentalization of artistic forms that sometimes escape the market and the institution. From research to archiving, creation takes free and inspiring forms, often editorialized: iconography, collections, recordings, notations, publications or archives.
Print-on-Demand hat die Welt der Bücher revolutioniert: Seit Anfang des Jahrtausends treffen immer bessere und günstigere Digitaldruckverfahren auf die Möglichkeiten des globalen Online-Handels. Daraus entsteht eine Produktionsmethode, bei der Bücher nicht mehr auf Vorrat vervielfältigt werden. Sie werden erst gedruckt, wenn konkreter Bedarf besteht: „on demand“, also auf Nachfrage.
Digitale Plattformen wie Kindle Direct Publishing, Blurb oder Lulu prägen aktuell die Produktion von Books-on-Demand im Selfpublishing-Segment. So wird es prinzipiell allen ermöglicht, ihre Arbeiten sofort und weltweit zu publizieren, ohne dafür auf einen Verlag angewiesen zu sein und ohne große finanzielle Risiken eingehen zu müssen. Die Bücher lassen sich mit wenigen Klicks erstellen und in den globalen Buchhandel einspeisen. Dies eröffnet einen Raum voller Möglichkeiten jenseits des klassischen Buchmarkts und trägt zur Demokratisierung der Produktion bei. Dabei werden etablierte Gatekeeper umgangen und alte Wertzuschreibungen aufgehoben; zugleich entstehen aber neue Abhängigkeiten, etwa von den Plattformen und deren Vorgaben und Interessen.
Vielfach beklagt wird auch der inhaltliche Qualitätsverlust, wenn alle alles drucken können. Zudem sind Digitaldruck und Bindung häufig nicht hochwertig, und die Fehlerquote in der vollautomatisierten Produktion ist recht hoch. Im Gegenzug ermöglichen die Print-on-Demand-Plattformen Teilhabe und Experiment und öffnen das Buch für neue Anwendungs- und Denkbereiche. Diese Dynamik hat eine lebendige Subkultur im Bereich künstlerischen Publizierens entstehen lassen, die das Medium Buch auf der Suche nach möglichen Inhalten, Ästhetiken, Materialitäten, Ökonomien und Öffentlichkeiten neu auslotet, gleichzeitig unsere digitale Gegenwart kritisch hinterfragt und verhandelt.
Die Bücher zeigen, wie sich diese innovativen Produktions- und Publikationsbedingungen kreativ nutzen lassen, dabei aber auch explorativ eingesetzt und differenziert reflektiert werden. Zugleich demonstrieren sie die ungebrochene Strahlkraft und Relevanz des gedruckten Buchs.
KONTEXT
Die „Library of Artistic Print on Demand“ kartografiert mit 244 Titeln erstmals dieses Experimentierfeld. Sie erkundet dessen globale Verbreitung, historische Tiefe und politische Relevanz. Alle Publikationen sind in einem Webarchiv umfassend dokumentiert zugänglich. Seit 2024 werden all diese Bücher von der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek (Künstlerbuchsammlung) in physischer Form bewahrt und können dort im Lesesaal eingesehen werden. Ein umfassender Katalog mit Aufsätzen von Personen aus Theorie und Praxis erscheint bei Spector Books, Leipzig.
Die „Library of Artistic Print on Demand“ geht auf ein Forschungsprojekt von Annette Gilbert und Andreas Bülhoff an der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg zurück (2019–2022). Es wurde von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft gefördert. Die Auswahl der über 110 hier versammelten und einsehbaren Bücher kuratierte Annette Gilbert. In jedem Exemplar befinden sich Zettel mit der Beschreibung des jeweiligen Projekts auf Deutsch und Englisch.
Weitere Informationen finden Sie auf www.apod.li einsehbar.
BETEILIGTE KÜNSTLER*INNEN
0x0a, Åbäke, ABC (Artists’ Books Cooperative), Hartmut Abendschein, Greg Allen, AND Publishing, Anonymous, Hannes Bajohr, Nanni Balestrini, Hester Barnard, Fred Benenson, Olivier Bertrand, Christian Bök, Mimi Cabell, Étienne Candel, Francesca Capone, Giulia Ciliberto, Paolo Cirio, Albert Coers, Felipe Cussen, Kris De Decker, Alexia de Visscher, Eric Doeringer, Karen ann Donnachie, Geraint Edwards, Jasper Otto Eisenecker, Ben Fry, Gauss PDF, Angela Genusa, James Goggin, Mishka Henner, Elaine W. Ho, David Horvitz, Jason Huff, Intern, Jason Jadick, Marina Kampka, Jean Keller, Dagmara Kraus, Paul Laidler, Maxime Le Bon, Joyce S. Lee, Silvio Lorusso, Nicolas Maigret, Michael Mandiberg, Michael Maranda, Holly Melgard, Luca Messarra, Joseph Mosconi, NUPoD2017 Collective, Julian Palacz, Beatrix Pang, Kathrin Passig, Frank Philippin, Michalis Pichler, Vanessa Place, Jake Reber, Aaron A. Reed, Maria Roszkowska, paula roush, Rafaël Rozendaal, Zoë Sadokierski, Joachim Schmid, Sebastian Schmieg, Andy Simionato, Danny Snelson, Paul Soulellis, Mark Staniforth, Students of the faculty of Design at the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, Isabelle Sully, Surfaces Utiles, Stephanie Syjuco, Chris Sylvester, Kyndal Thomas, Elisabeth Tonnard, Troll Thread, Ubermorgen, Undocumented Press, Stéphanie Vilayphiou, Angie Waller, Thomas Walskaar, Barron Webster, Gregor Weichbrodt, Yin Yin Wong, Joey Yearous-Algozin, Hermann Zschiegner, Erin Zwaska.