Roma Publications

“Roma Publications 1998 – 2014”: the independent art book publisher is on show at Fondazione Giuliani in Rome, with over 230 book.

“Roma Publications 1998 – 2014” is an exhibition that includes over 230 books and editions published by Roger Willems and Mark Manders in collaboration with a large number of artists, writers and designers.

A publication is typically the end point of a project or exhibition; this exhibition, however, takes the printed format as its point of departure. Books, newspapers, posters and other printed matter are combined with artworks and installations relating to the publisher’s identity inside an exhibition dimension. The informal way of bringing art and publications together in a carefully composed exhibition gives clear insight into the working process of Roma Publications, which is based on a collaborative relationship to the artists. Another interesting element of this hybrid approach is that it questions the sometimes thin line between an original and a reproduction, and thus between the exclusiveness of an artwork and the democratic nature of a publication.

Roma Publications 1998 - 2012 — **Top:** exhibition view, Research Centre for Artists' Publications, Weserburg, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Bremen, 2012. **Above:** "Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

The exhibition aims to present the form of the book as an extended media that can involve the exhibition space. Some of the invited artists will contribute to the fading of the distinction between paper and space, image and material, original and reproduction (the print run of Roma Publications’ issues varies between 2 and 150.000 copies). Many of these practitioners use the book and printed matter as a central medium in their work, underlining not only the important role of publications to diffuse artistic production, but also in the rethinking of the book medium as an artistic practice.

Published by: Roma Publications — "Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

The independent art publisher Roma Publications, founded in 1998 by artist Mark Manders and graphic designer Roger Willems, works in collaboration with artists, designers, writers and institutions. For the exhibition at the Fondazione Giuliani – the first occasion in which Roma Publications will be presented in Rome – the entire in-progress list of over 230 titles will be on display, in addition to a specially created reading room in which visitors can peruse each of the publications. Several new commissions and site-specific artworks will also be included in the exhibition, together with pre-existing works, all by artists who have actively collaborated with and participated in the activities of Roma Publications. With the exception of just two artists, all of these artists will be exhibiting in Rome for the first time, some for the first time in Italy.

"Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

"Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

"Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

"Roma Publications 1998 – 2014" installation view at Fondazione Giuliani, Rome, 2014 Photo: Giorgio Benni

until 13 December 2014
Roma Publications 1998 – 2014
curated by: Lorenzo Benedetti e Roger Willems
with the support of: Ambasciata Olandese a Roma
Fondazione Giuliani per l’arte contemporanea
via Gustavo Bianchi, 1 Roma

Saturday 11 October from 11 to 13
performance by Wouter van Riessen, reading by Nickel van Duijvenboden
and an informal conversation with the curators and some of the artists in the exhibition

Roma Publications

“Roma Publications 1998 – 2014”: the independent art book publisher is on show at Fondazione Giuliani in Rome, with over 230 book.

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