Indie publishers in the spotlight

London gallery TJ Boulting celebrates the publishers behind art and photobooks this summer in a group show, Publish/Curate.

Opening this evening, the exhibition features several leading independent art and photobook publishers who have been invited by gallery director Hannah Watson to curate the work of artists and photographers who interest them.

Among the publishers taking part are: Bruno Ceschel of Self Publish Be Happy, Alex Bocchetto and Valentina Abenavoli of Akina Books, Damien Poulain (Oodee), Aron Mörel (Mörel Books), Harry Hardie and Ben Weaver (Here Press), and Timothy Prus (Archive of Modern Conflict). Watson, who runs Trolley Books as well as TJ Boulting, will also be taking part.

Photographers whose work is on show include: Ricardo Cases, Lorenzo Vitturi, Lewis Chaplin, Asger Carlsen, Charlotte Dumas, Cristina de Middel, Robin Maddock, Akiko Takizawa, and Viviane Sassen.

As TJ Boulting notes in its press statement: “there has been a prolific amount of activity in the art publishing world in recent years with fairs such as Offprint in Paris, specialist bookshops, organisations such as Printed Matter, which established the successful New York Art Book Fair, and particularly a rise in young publishers innovating on small budgets and producing exciting and original small-run publications. The slim economic return of publishing, especially in the general financial downturn has led to a passionate and creative output for those who are, against the odds, bringing out new and original publications… this is an opportunity to bring together not only the various artists and photographers, but also highlight the publishers responsible for showcasing their work.”

Publish/Curate at TJ Boulting runs from 1 to 23 August.

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