The art book fair I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel presents parallel to Art Basel renowned and yet to be discovered exhibitors from the fields of art and art books, catalogues, monographs, magazines and zines. On the grounds of the Kaserne Basel the independent publishers present their contemporary publication program consisting of mainly very small editions, all well worth discovering with unique themes of art, photography, designs, printing techniques and paper.
What is to be seen this year? In terms of Off-spaces and Art-spaces, Choisi – one at a time (Lugano), Counter Space (Zurich), Guillaume Daeppen Space for Zines and Prints (Basel) and the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art (Rotterdam) will present their publications among others. The role of the art school has an interesting position, as it is responsible for the production of both books and artworks. The institutions within this field include: The HEAD Genf, the Academy of Art and Design FHNW, the BUA (Bern University of the Arts, 2G12b (Karlsruhe) and for the first time, the Merz Akademie Stuttgart, who will display their works this year.
As for the publishers who focus on art theory, Merve and Sternberg Press (both from Berlin) as well as Valiz (from Amsterdam, will be shown together with the artist Ulay the comprehensive monograph Whispers: Ulay on Ulay) will be present, among other theorists. Traveling from wide and far and some attending for the first time include: Knuckles & Notch (Singapur), Gato Negro Ediciones (Mexico City), Neptún Magazine (Reykiavik), Einstein Studio and X Magazine (Tokyo), 88Books / Ho Tam (Toronto), Antic-Ham (Seoul).
Presenting antiques, rare pieces, and books that are out-of-print, bookstores such as, Beck Books (Genf), MZIN (Leipzig), PUNCH (Bucharest) and Peter Bichsel Fine Books (Zürich) will operate as both explorers and curators of these objects.
Among the other topics, the theme ‘Food and Tea’ has also found its place within the publications and events. Edition Taube (Zurich / Stuttgart) will present Peter Ganser ‘J’ai perdu ma tête’ and Thomas Jeppe ‘Asiatische Adlernase’. Additionally, Trademark Publishing (Karl W. Henschel) will show ‘Tea Total’ by Antonia Henschel and Juice & Rispetta (Künstlerkollektiv Basel, Zürich, Biel) will create ‘Recipe Reports’ – Fanzines as well as a food project at Messeplatz.
Writers such as Armen Avanessian (author at Merve and Sternberg Press Berlin) and Hannes Mangold (cultural studies Bern) with a piece on ‘Consumption and Revolution’, and Chus Martinez (Head of the Institute Art HGK FHNW) have all contributed to the fair’s catalogue.
The fair is accompanied by I Never Read, Radio with audio features, topical discussions and music. The radio program is organised by the Institut Kunst from the School of Art and Design (HGK) FHNW; broadcasting from 17 – 20 June on live stream at www.ineverread.com
An after party following the opening on Wednesday 17 June 2015 will be held by the I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel together with the HGK FHNW and ELIA at the Campus der Künste at Dreispitz.
I Never Read, Art Book Fair Basel
Kaserne Basel
Klybeckstrasse 1b
4057 Basel, Switzerland
Opening:
Wednesday, 17 June, 6 – 10 pm
Opening times:
Thursday, 18 June, 4 – 10 pm
Friday, 19 June, 4 – 10 pm
Saturday, 20 June, noon – 6 pm
