From Friday to Sunday, in the Sant Antoni market, more than a hundred publishers present their novelties at ArtsLibris, the International Fair of Artist Publications, also extended to photobooks, self-publishing, thought and architecture books, and which also includes exhibitions , presentations, debates and talks, as well as the Líbrica seminar, organized by Eina Idea.
Among the novelties, for example, Joan Fontcuberta's book HeghDI' vem ghaH, tu'lu' stands out. Dinosaur (Dalpine), a volume on dinosaurs written in the Klingon language –the language of a race from the science fiction series Star Trek–, or Plensa Macbeth Verdi (Enciclopèdia Arts), based on the artistic creations of Jaume Plensa while preparing the scenery of the opera that he presented at the Liceu, or the latest book by the photographer from the Magnum agency Lúa Ribeira, Subida al cielo (Dalpine).
Walking among the exhibitors you can find books by artists such as those by Plensa, but also by Perejaume, Tàpies, Brossa or photobooks by Txema Salvans, Julián Baron, Carmen Calvo, Santi Moix or Mikel Bastida, but there is also space for the fanzine El Naufraguito, for the artist books for children by Cuscusians or the books by the RM publishing house (with a great novelty such as Diagramando la modernidad, by Rodrigo Gutiérrez Viñuales and Riccardo Boglione on books and graphic design in Latin America from 1920 to 1940), those of Écho 119, in Paris, with a selection of Japanese photobooks, or Possible Editions and their careful publications, among others. There is also space for personal projects, such as Mireia Mateo's and her book Les erràtiques with a series of photo-engravings made from seeds that travel from one place to another attached to people's clothes.
Gallerist and publisher Rocío Santa Cruz, founder and director of ArtsLibris, recalls that the fair "has become a benchmark for artist books also in Latin America and Portugal", and there are publications that are not usually present at the rest of Europe. Santa Cruz has also defended that the fair is a way of seeing contemporary art through publications and a starting point to reflect on where the world of books is headed”.
The director of Visual Arts at the Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals, Marta Gustà, explained that the fair makes her think of the Roman market, "because there is also a great exchange of ideas and conspiracies, with a great mix of audiences and interests" and it is a sample of what public-private collaboration can do.
Precisely the fact that it is held in such a particular space has promoted collaboration with the Sunday market, not only because of the welcome of some booksellers at the fair, but also because of the programming of some events this Sunday, such as the presentation of the multidisciplinary creations of Joan Vinuesa, poet, musician and artist.
And the edition of Oriol Vilanova's book Mercats, mercaders, mercaderies is also about the market, as part of the collection published by the fair itself, and in which Vilanova wanted to pay "homage to overlapping markets: the fair, the one for food and the Sunday one”, and assured that he goes every Sunday “like someone who goes to mass: I am a believer in the market”.
In addition, on Sunday the prizes for this fourteenth edition will be awarded: the ArtsLibris Banc Sabadell, the Eloi Gimeno for the best photobook and the Artes Byblio for art schools or universities.
An art and book market in all possible formats and open to everyone.
Catalan version, here
