It all began with the question: “How accessible are contemporary, independently published art books from Asia?” Occasionally, they appear on the shelves of favorite book and magazine stores, or in the collections of public libraries. During my graphic design studies, however, I found the smaller edition books (especially those by emerging artists and students) particularly exciting, yet challenging to locate. In 2022, Sam Kim set out to address this by collecting art books and making them accessible in one place. Common Imprint brings together over 600 independent publications from Asia, offering a shared platform for anyone interested in exploring the diverse publishing disciplines from South and East Asia. The “Reading Room” is a laboratory where visitors can move freely through a unique collection. This selection spans topics like photography, film, design and architecture, providing insight into the work of independent publishers and experimental projects led by artists and students. Common Imprint is a hub for engagement with regular lectures, events, workshops and exhibitions. Visitors can browse the collection every weekend, but registration is recommended here.
Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Common Imprint
Common Imprint, Zionskirchstr.16, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
@commonimprint
