The exhibition "Doitsu Art Buchmarkt" delves into the contemporary artbook scene in Germany. Here, we will be showcasing artbooks and zines selected by 5 pioneering curators from the German artbook sphere. In this interview, TABF will be detailing each curator's practice and intent behind their selection. Based in Berlin, Germany, Stefan Marx is an artist often working with unique handwritten typographies and humorous and thoughtful drawings observing the everyday through a keen eye. Now widely known through multiple media such as artist's book, canvas, T-shirts, record covers, and more, his works are loved all around the world.

 

ー We have asked you to select artbooks by German-born or Germany-based artists. What are the key points of your selection? 

 

Thank you for inviting me to curate a table at the Doitsu Art Buchmarkt, it was a great pleasure. My main focus during the selection process was very subjective, I choose books I like, artists I like, books from friends I like, books and zines I already own or these which I would like to own in the future. All the books I choose are very new or just out, some are not available on the market, because these are published by the artists themselves and aren’t available widely. The range starts with small self published zines and ends with Henrike Naumanns new artist book which is such a fantastic object.

 

ー Aside from "Doitsu Art Buchmarkt" , we have your exhibition "Die Hefte" and a zine of the same title at TABF 2024 which brings together all artist's books and zines you have published from 2003 to date. What triggered your interest in publishing? What is it that motivates you to keep creating books one after another? 

 

I’m very happy to show all my artist books at the TABF this year, it was a fun process to look for all of them in my archive and work on the book with Akira Kuroki on the publication. I always dreamed about a book about my artist publications, and I’m very proud to co-publish it with the TABF. Publishing is one of my favorite artistic practices, every publication has its own story, and there are more to come. 


 

ー Can you please tell us a little bit about the small art book fair you opened on September 1st 2024 with the art space ""GROTTO BOOKS"" ? What led you to start the fair and how many exhibitors participated? How did you feel about it?

Grotto Books was the idea of the curator Leonie Herweg and the artist Simon Freund, both run the art space GROTTO at Berlins beloved Hansaviertel. After I showed my work at the subway station below GROTTO, they asked me if I would be interested in joining to think about an art book fair at the lovely Hansabibliothek, which is located in the neighborhood of GROTTO. So GROTTO BOOKS Was born and had its very first edition at Sep. 1st 2024, a sunny sunday. It is a one day fair. We invited 17 publishers and artists who got one table for free, and curated a family and friends table with books by them. AA Bronson was our guest of honor, he had a great table with many of his artist books and editions. Liberty Adrien and me set up a small Liberty Flower Shop, we had a music program in the garden where Peter M Kersten aka Lawrence or Michael Satter for example played some music, I hosted a Philip Emde signing at my table, too. It was a great success, many people came by to visit the fair, I hope there will be another one next year. 


 

 

ー Berlin attracts a lot of artists making the city as unique as it is. Now that you have moved to this city from Hamburg, how do you find your new environment in Berlin?


 

I like it here in Berlin.


ー A quick message for our Japanese audience?


I love you.