Independent Publishing House — Palermo
Independent Publishing House — Palermo
3.000,00 €
With an appetite infused with lust and paired with professional desire to explore and expose Mauro D’Agati went to work, bringing light into the Black Swamp. Over the course of more than 5 years Mauro submerged into the swamp and found a labyrinth built on human desires, deep dark and hidden idols of worship, fetishes of all sorts, some known, some already incorporated by fifty shades of popular culture and some still hidden from the eyes of the judging guards of society. In his unique style, Mauro D’Agati explores and captures the bizarre and grotesque of the human being and his deeds and desires. Southeast Asia’s liberating BDSM and Fetish scene is a feast for his lense, and so it was him who finally brought light into the black swamp.
SPECIAL EDITION OF 89 + 3AP
Text by Michael Messner
Book design by Mauro D’Agati
270 pages
35 × 50 cm
Softcover UV print on Setalux Paper
Japanese binding
Housed in a wooden box finished with eco–leather
Lid of the box a UV print on plexiglass (1 cm)
Presented in a UV printed black bag
+ 20 × 30 cm booklet – 112 pages
Founded by a photographer, 89books emerged from the desire to elevate the book as an artistic medium and to create opportunities for photographers at the beginning of their careers, as well as for those with little or no previous experience in photobook publishing. Book proposals may be submitted at any time, either as a completed dummy or as an invitation to collaborate on the development of a project from a larger body of photographic material. In the latter case, 89books works closely with the artist on image selection, editing, sequencing, and graphic design in order to shape the work into a carefully conceived publication.
Folio is a special series of 89books dedicated to the production of fast-paced publications distinguished by a cohesive design and a standard format (21 × 28 cm). Each edition is housed in a printed envelope, reinforcing the tactile and collectible nature of the object. With Folio, 89books aims to respond to photographers’ desire to produce limited-edition publications quickly, while maintaining a strong commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Folio is continuously open to submissions from artists and photographers with fully developed projects seeking to transform their work into a carefully conceived publication.
The 89Books AIR Program (Artists in Residence) supports professionals working in contemporary art, with a particular focus on photography and bookmaking. During the residency, residents may either refine an existing project with the aim of transforming it into a book, or develop new work in the city of Palermo intended to become part of Quaderno Palermo – a collection of impressions of the city and its inhabitants conceived in dialogue with the 89books team. The residency also seeks to question and expand the very notion of the “book,” exploring new possibilities for how photobooks can be made, structured, viewed, and experienced. Residencies typically last two weeks. Shorter or longer stays may be arranged individually. Selected candidates receive a letter of support to assist with applications for external funding covering travel expenses and per diems.
Quaderno Palermo is a special publication series dedicated to photographers’ interpretations of Palermo, a city endlessly photographed and immortalized in cinema. At once visually captivating and deeply neglected, Palermo offers a rich and layered terrain for artistic exploration. Projects may be developed independently or within the framework of the 89books Artist-in-Residence program. The intended outcome is a publication in the Quaderno Palermo series.
