A multitude of Poland’s intriguing publishing initiatives are presented at this year’s New York Art Book Fair in late September. The Warsaw-based Bęc Zmiana foundation sets up a booth with its own titles and those of theatre company TR Warszawa, with a corner for independent music labels Lado ABC and Bôłt Records
Bęc Zmiana (a playful name that translates to Boink Change) is a not-for-profit organization that supports interdisciplinary events in art, architecture, design, experimental music and alternative economy. The foundation also operates as a publisher, boasting a high volume of releases including magazines, books, guides and maps.
The publications presented in New York City include Bęc Zmiana's newest releases and art, architecture and design titles recently released by the Centrum Architektury, Narodowe Centrum Kultury, Fundacja Wyspa Progress Instytut Sztuki Wyspa, Korporacja Ha!art and TR Warszawa.
ARPS published by the Centrum Architektury, Warsaw, 2012
Another Polish participant in the fair is the IT! The Worst Magazine Ever (Najgorszy TO!). This distinctive art project is an ongoing publication, typically released twice a year, with the form and concept evolving from one edition to the next. Artists, writers, curators and journalists submit their works, create projects and write texts around the changing themes. The official website of this "art magazine of absurd and grotesque character" presents its current edition and previous ones at www.najgorszy.com
The 6 editions of IT! The Worst Magazine Ever
The New York Art Book Fair is organised annually by Printed Matter, the art-publication specialists, and takes place at PS1, the lively affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art. The fair hosts some 280 exhibitors for the 2013 edition, with an expected audience of about 25,000 viewers.
Printed Matter is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of publications made by artists. Founded as a for-profit alternative arts space in 1976 by artists and artworkers, Printed Matter reincorporated in 1978 to become the independent non-profit organization that it is today. Recognized for years as an essential voice in the increasingly diversified art world's conversations and debates, Printed Matter is dedicated to the examination and interrogation of the changing role of artist publications in the landscape of contemporary art.
The NY Art Book Fair runs from the 19th to the 22nd of September and it takes place at MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City.
The participation of Bęc Zmiana and IT! The Worst Magazine is co-organised by the Polish Institue in New York.
Paulina Schlosser, source: http://najgorszy.com, http://printedmatter.org/, www.bęczmiana.pl, http://nyartbookfair.com/
We are the Word sign designed by Jakub Jezierski, courtesy of Bęc Zmiana foundation