Independent Publishing House — Palermo
Independent Publishing House — Palermo
30,00 €
The SOFER factory in Pozzuoli, once a vital part of the city’s economic and social fabric, now stands abandoned, closed for years due to asbestos contamination and safety concerns. Over time, it has become a symbol of neglect and decay. Mancuso, who had only known SOFER from the outside, chose to step beyond its boundaries—not just to document its remains, but to shape a memory that was not his own yet deeply resonated within the site’s crumbling walls. During this creative process, a technical error led to a breakthrough, shaping a distinctive photographic method. The resulting images feel like fragments of a collective memory, evoking the presence of those who once labored there, often at the cost of their health. More than mere documentation, Mancuso’s photographs capture the emotional and historical weight of the space, reflecting on the human and environmental toll of a vanished industrial era. In its abandonment, SOFER becomes a mirror—raising questions about memory, responsibility, and the lasting scars industry leaves on communities.
EDITION 04/2025
Text by Yvonne De Rosa
Book Design by Emanuele Mancuso, Yvonne De Rosa, 89books
128 pages
24 × 31 cm
31 color photographs
Softcover Fanzine
Digital print
ISBN 979-12-80423-96-2
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.
