Books are windows to the world, which in times of restrictions and closed spaces makes them all the more valuable. If you are looking to escape with a new read, you can do worse than head to Wedding S-Bahn station, where you will find the a.p. bookshop that opened in autumn 2020. The store’s wide window front offers a view into a bright interior home to sofas, high wooden shelves and display cabinets. Head inside and you are greeted with a well-curated selection of picture books, poetry collections and catalogs sorted not alphabetically, but by theme: “Road Trip”, “Mourning” and “Protest” are just some of categories ready to explore.
Launched in collaboration with Callie’s, a non-profit art institution that runs multidisciplinary residency programs in the same complex, the bookshop has a strong focus on multilingual art titles. In addition to the latest monographs, you will also find novels by the likes of French writer Annie Ernaux and poetry by Harryette Mullen. Manager Elijah Jackson and his team strive to maintain a balance between international releases and works from Berlin publishers such as Zero sharp. Their enthusiasm for books and design is felt with every title you browse through: instead of the usual suspects, you come across clever finds like Kapsel, a magazine which presents a Chinese science fiction short story (in German) in every issue. The selection of literature is complemented by artworks and accessories, including Byzantine necklaces by Georgian designer Sopho Gongliashvili and hammocks by Mexican artist Don Agustín Caamal Chimal. The shop is intended as much for inspiration and exchange as for consumption, with regular readings, workshops and lectures planned for when conditions allow. With all this coming up, a.p. will be the one to watch on the Wedding lit scene.
Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Luke Marshall Johnson
a.p., Lindower Str.20, 13347 Berlin–Wedding; map
Thu–Fri 13–19h, Sat 12–19h (to be extended soon)
@a.p.berlin
