Since the beginning of May, Desislava Pancheva has been message salon embassy’s newest resident at Zurich Nord. Desislava Pancheva is passionate about zines (fanzines), artist books and the artists who produce and publish them.
Desislava Pancheva (born in 1986 in Sofia, Bulgaria) studied photography in Milan and, upon returning home, founded the Artist-Run-Space Hip Hip Atelier in Sofia in 2010. In 2011, she transformed it into the Hip Hip Library, Sofia’s first platform and library for self-publishing and small printing houses. The off-space that includes a library and a store has become an important meeting point for the local scene and a workshop that facilitates self-publishing, and encourages artists to publish zines, art books or editions.
The Bulgarian capital boasts a vibrant underground scene with music, art, start-ups, and clubs. In 2017, Desisleva Pancheva started the first book fair for independent publishers and art books in Bulgaria, the Sofia Art Book Fair. Focusing on the Balkan region, Sofia Art Book Fair is also a meeting point in the local scene, aimed at collaborating with publishers abroad. The book fair takes place annually and features presentations, artist talks, and workshops from all over the world.
The self-publishing scene within the global art world has grown tremendously in the past few years. There are more and more alternative book fairs and new small printing houses, and workshops in using copiers, risographs, and book binding are being offered widely. Within the artbook market, there is now a niche for analog graphics, hand-made books, limited editions, and zines. The self-publishing scene is part of an international network, which has grown beyond the institutions and which has its roots in the do-it-yourself attitude of punk and skater culture.
Desislava Pancheva’s installation Hip Hip Library will open at the message salon embassy studio at Zurich Nord on Saturday, May 26. It will feature zines and publications from the library archives. The audience is invited to visit the library, peruse the books and zines, and talk with the resident about books, Bulgaria, the Balkans, zines, and Zurich, and/or create their own exclusive zines at the workshop. Copiers, paper, pencils, cans of spray paint, scissors, glue, slides and image material will be available in the studio.
Desislava Pancheva
Hip Hip Library
May 26 to July 15, 2018
Opening Saturday, May 26, 4 to 8 pm
The library is open to the public and includes a bar, music, activities and workshops.
Every Wednesday from May 30 to June 20, from 5 to 10 pm.
Book an appointment to visit the library under:
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message salon embassy Zürich Nord, Dialogweg 6, Hunziker Areal, 8050 Zürich
Take the 781 bus from Örlikon Ost station to Riedbach