Independent Publishing House — Palermo
Independent Publishing House — Palermo
45,00 €
The ancient wisdom of the Indian Vedas tells that the goddess Maya, after creating the world, enveloped it in a veil to prevent men from accessing the true nature of reality. Maya is therefore the veil of illusion that obscures men’s vision and hides, or at least alters, the perception of the world in which we live. In India, you only need to walk through the streets and stop to observe what is happening to get the distinct feeling that everything seems to take place on an imaginary, unreal or even grotesque plane, to the point of wondering whether what is happening before your eyes is not really the result of an illusion. And the illusion is everywhere! It is in the incredible tricks of the fakirs, in the potholed roads, in the obsessive sounds of car horns, as well as in the men sleeping at street corners, in the mothers begging for milk for their children, in the stray dogs wandering aimlessly, in the old people with their hands constantly outstretched for a few coins, in the festering stumps of lepers.
1. EDITION 04/2026
Text by Antonio Palumbo
Book Design by 89books, Antonio Palumbo
120 pages
32 x 27 cm
69 BW photographs
Softcover
Digital print
ISBN 979-12-82350-16-7
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.
