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Yours, KOW

KOW ISSUE 6: Relational Authorship, or: What is „Independent Publishing“?

Olaf Nicolai (artist, Berlin) and Jan Wenzel (Spector Books, Leipzig) in conversation

Dec 11, 2009

Die Bezeichnung „independent publishing“ liest man derzeit häufig. Die Berliner Kunstbibliothek stellt seit einigen Monaten Christoph Kellers „Kiosk-Archiv“ mit über 6.000 Publikationen von unabhängigen Verlagen aus. In einer Reihe von europäischen Metropolen wurden in diesem Jahr Artbook Festivals veranstaltet, so viele wie nie zuvor. Selbst zu publizieren hat im Bereich der Kunst derzeit Konjunktur. Was mit „independent publishing“ genau gemeint ist, bleibt dennoch meist vage. Markus Dreßen und Jan Wenzel, Mitbegründer des Leipziger Verlags Spector Books, arbeiten seit knapp zehn Jahren kontinuierlich mit dem Künstler Olaf Nicolai zusammen. Diese gemeinsamen Produktionserfahrungen dienen als Ausgangspunkt, um den Begriff „independent publishing“ zu diskutieren. Was geschieht, wenn KünstlerInnen und GestalterInnen bei der Produktion eines Buches in eine Relation treten, die mit dem traditionellen Rollenmuster von genuinem künstlerischen Schaffen auf der einen und gestalterischer Dienstleistung auf der anderen Seite bricht? Wie verändert eine solche Praxis die Vorstellung von Autorenschaft? Und führt eine andere Form der Produktion von Büchern auch zu anderen, neuen Stilistiken?

Konzept und Text: Jan Wenzel

“Independent publishing“ is currently a popular denomination: The Berlin Art Library has been exhibiting Christoph Keller‘s “Kiosk-Archiv“ with over 6.000 publications by independent publishers now for several months. A range of European metropolises hosted art book festivals this year, more than any before. In the field of art, publishing on one‘s own is currently on the upswing; however, the precise meaning of “independent publishing“ usually remains vague. Markus Dreßen and Jan Wenzel, co-founders of the Leipzig publishing company Spector Books, have been working together with the artist Olaf Nicolai for nearly ten years. These shared production experiences serve as the starting point for a discussion of the term “independent publishing“. What happens when artists and designers enter into a relationship in the production of a book that breaches the traditional behaviour patterns of genuine artistic creation on the one hand and the provision of design service on the other hand? How does such a practise alter the notion of authorship? And does a different form of book production also lead to different, new stylistics?

Concept and Text: Jan Wenzel

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Current

Upcoming

2024

Social Geometry and its Cracks, Relations, Discontents

, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Ariana Dongus, Jan Distelmeyer, Alexander Repp, Zsolt Sőrés and Anne Clark
Jun 27, 2024

Anna Ehrenstein + Léon Kruijswijk in conversation

, Anna Ehrenstein
May 16, 2024

2023

CANDICE BREITZ + COCO FUSCO IN CONVERSATION

, Candice Breitz, Coco Fusco
Dec 6, 2023

Wolfen–Book release

Book release and artist talk with Regina Bittner, Kathleen Rahn and Tobias Zielony
Mar 4, 2023

Kann man politische Kunst besitzen?

Wolfgang Ullrich im Gespräch mit Mario von Kelterborn
Feb 15, 2023

2022

Proof of the Unthinkable

Diskussion mit Bea Streicher (Amnesty) und Mouctar Bah (Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh e.V.)
Nov 5, 2022

Proof of the Unthinkable

Screening und Diskussion mit Mario Pfeifer, der Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh und Iain Peck
Oct 29, 2022

The Fall

Book release, reading and coversation with the authors, Tobias Zielony and Sascha Ehlert (Das Wetter)
Oct 7, 2022

Neoism Performance

Istvan Kantor
Jul 15, 2022

Balot NFT presentation at KOW booth Art Basel

, CATPC
Jun 16, 2022

Albanian Conference Performance

, Anna Ehrenstein
May 13, 2022

2021

INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE

, Mario Pfeifer
Nov 3, 2021

2019

KOW ISSUE 20: The Great Nowitzki

, Tobias Zielony, Thomas Pletzinger
Sep 19, 2019

KOW ISSUE 19: Eastern Girls and Western Boys


Mar 30, 2019

2017

KOW ISSUE 18: How to see documenta 14


Aug 22, 2017

2016

KOW ISSUE 17: Brauchen wir einen Solidarischen Populismus?

Candice Breitz, Mischa Gabowitsch, Alexander Koch, Maximilian Popp
Oct 4, 2016

KOW ISSUE 16: Kunst im Auftrag der Bevölkerung. L'émergence d'un art de la démocratie

François Hers, Alexander Koch
Jul 5, 2016

KOW ISSUE 15: Art and Economic Inequality

Renzo Martens, Kolja Reichert, Alexander Koch
Jun 7, 2016

2015

KOW ISSUE 14: The Dialogique City

Christian von Borries, Arno Brandlhuber, Thomas Mayfried, Christian Posthofen und Thomas Weski
Dec 10, 2015

KOW ISSUE 13: Russia, the Zombie State of the Art, and Collective Despair and Utopia

, Chto Delat
Apr 9, 2015

KOW ISSUE 12: Screening & Lecture by Barbara Hammer

, Estate of Barbara Hammer
Feb 7, 2015

SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL AT KOW

, Chto Delat, Alice Creischer, Eugenio Dittborn, Heinrich Dunst, Estate of Barbara Hammer, Renzo Martens, Frédéric Moser & Philippe Schwinger, Mario Pfeifer, Michael E. Smith, Franz Erhard Walther, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Tobias Zielony, Barbecue, music, and a screening of 22 videos by 15 artists
Jun 28, 2015

ONE YEAR OF FILMMAKERS

KOW's program 2015: Exhibitions, Talks, Events
Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2015

2014

KOW ISSUE 11: Heinrich Dunst

, Heinrich Dunst, Performance and conversation with Heinrich Dunst
Oct 30, 2014

2012

KOW ISSUE 10: Berliner Archipele 2012

Arno Brandlhuber in conversation
Sep 15, 2012

KOW ISSUE 9: Creischer vs. Brandlhuber

Alice Creischer, Arno Brandlhuber
Jun 26, 2012

3 YEARS KOW

KOW's Third Anniversary Party
Sep 7 – Sep 8, 2012

OPEN SOURCE CULTURE IN POST-CONFLICT DEVELOPMENT

South Sudan and Open Source Culture: Opening discussion of the international conference and workshop #OSJUBA
Jun 21, 2012

MANITOBA BOOK RELEASE

, Tobias Zielony, In collaboration with SPECTOR BOOKS Leipzig and MOTTO DISTRIBUTION Berlin with Andrea Hiott, Astrid Mania and Tobias Zielony
Apr 24, 2012

AUGUSTIN TEBOUL, FASHION WEEK 2012

Fashion Show
Jan 18, 2012

2011

KOW ISSUE 8: GENERAL STRIKE

Lee Lozano, Charlotte Posenenske, Cady Noland, et al. Publication by Alexander Koch
Apr 30, 2011

LESUNG AUS DEN BERLINER WAHLKAMPFPROGRAMMEN

Lecture Performance arranged by Arno Brandlhuber in the context of RGB 165/96/36 CMYK 14/40/80/20
Sep 11, 2011

SANTIAGO SIERRA: DESTROYED WORD

Destruction of the Berlin T
May 1, 2011

POLARKREIS

Biannual salon of POLAR, Zeitschrift für Politik, Kultur, Alltag
Jan 1, 2011

2010

KOW ISSUE 7: Duty and Defeat

, Frédéric Moser & Philippe Schwinger
May 5 – May 9, 2010

OPEN EYE AWARD 2010

Galaveranstaltung anlässlich der Verleihung des OPEN EYE AWARD durch MICT
Dec 9, 2010

Sudan Votes Music Hopes

Release Party with MICT (Media in Cooperation and Transition) and live concert by Sudanese singer Alsarah
Apr 8, 2010

2009

KOW ISSUE 6: Relational Authorship, or: What is „Independent Publishing“?

Olaf Nicolai (artist, Berlin) and Jan Wenzel (Spector Books, Leipzig) in conversation
Dec 11, 2009

SUDAN VOTES - MEDIA AS A MEDIATOR?

Panel discussion by MICT
Oct 26, 2009

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