Independent Publishing House — Palermo
Independent Publishing House — Palermo
40,00 €
Without being explicitly stated, Miramar is a book about the Riviera Romagnola. We learn this from the quote in the epigraph: a tercet from Canto V of the Inferno, spoken by Francesca da Rimini. The “Marina” Dante speaks of is the Adriatic Sea, which recurs throughout these pages like a Wagnerian theme.
The imagery of the Riviera is linked to fun, hospitality, and good food. Colorful visions of pulsating disco lights, multicolored beach umbrellas and deckchairs, the red of prosciutto and Sangiovese, the green of arugula, and the white of squacquerone from the millions of piadinas served to locals and tourists. Carefree, a zest for life, and lightheartedness. These are clichés that, as such, find their roots in reality. However, what we see in these pages is not the Romagna we like to imagine. One might be tempted to read it through Tondelli—the lost generation, the dreams thrown overboard, the pills—or through Fellini’s Amarcord. But that would be convenient. The poetic realism of this sequence inhabits another dimension, far from caricatures, from the high Cs of hopeless stories, from the nostalgia for an Italy that no longer exists…
1. EDITION 09/2026
Text by Luca Fiore
Book design by Marco Guidi, Michele Astolfi
124 pages
23 x 26 cm
76 BW photographs
Softcover
Digital print
ISBN 979-12-82350-18-1
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.
