Independent Publishing – Near & Far is a presentation of works by Further Reading (Bandung, Indonesia), Naranja Publicaciones (Santiago, Chile), and Red Dust (Brooklyn, NY). This gathering of independent publishers showcases a range of projects which vary not only in the press’s location but also in size, content, and organizational models. These differences emphasize a familiar truth in the world of independently run art publications: There is no one way to do it. That said, the chosen publishers have key commonalities that have brought them together for this presentation, notably the prioritization of collaborative methods of making and the highlighting of cross-cultural themes. 

The act of fostering and collecting works by independent publishers has long been a priority for Asia Art Archive in America. This commitment is proven by our extensive collection of zines, ephemera, and artist-made books as well as our continued dedication to sharing programs and workshops featuring independent and artist-run presses. We look forward to welcoming new and familiar community members to engage with these topics through Independent Publishing – Near & Far

A creative workshop and reception will be held on Wednesday April 24th, 5-9pm. To RSVP for the reception and/or workshop, please click the RSVP link above. 

5:00pm – 6:30pm Creative Workshop with featured Independent Publishers

7:00pm – 9:00pm Reception

Further Reading is an Indonesia-based, independent, multi-format publishing platform with a production and distribution unit. They seek to engage in discourse within design practices by exploring the wider contexts through various programmed experiences, such as online publication, printed periodicals, pop-ups, and workshops on topics relevant to/within Southeast Asia as well as globally. Further Reading has actively participated in numerous international art book fairs since 2019 and was awarded Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair 2022 Volume Grant and Miss Read’s BIPOC Support Grant in 2023.

Naranja Publicaciones is a Chilean artistic collective, publisher, and bookstore focused on artists publications. It’s founded by Sebastián Barrante and Sebastián Arancibia. Their work explores the possibilities of the artist’s publication from an expansive perspective that blurs the boundaries and encourages encounters with other disciplines, media and forms of circulation. Their work has participated in exhibitions in Chile, USA, Europe and Asia and it is safeguarded in more than 25 institutional collections.

Red Dust is an independent publisher with a focus on Asian and queer voices, founded by Sarula Bao and Jia Sung. They seek to explore questions of identity and heritage through the lens of comics, poetry, autobiography, folklore, food, and more. Their work is represented in institutional collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, SFMOMA, Yale University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, and has been exhibited across the US and Canada.

AAAinA’s general programming and operations are funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, Ruth Foundation, and the Vilcek Foundation.