Stories Beneath the Venetian Rain
After a 30-hour journey from Yogyakarta, we arrived in Venice to participate in the satellite edition of the Index Art Book Fair (IABF), representing Yogyakarta Art Book Fair (YKABF). As the only Southeast Asian participant, YKABF showcased 50 titles from 20 publishers and debuted Abundant Possibilities: Pages of Tales from Yogyakarta Art Book. Despite the rainy weather, the fair saw a warm reception, and our final day was blessed with sunshine. The experience opened new connections in the global publishing world, offering exciting possibilities for future collaborations.
Arunika Wiratama
After journeying for nearly 30 hours from Yogyakarta, we found ourselves stepping into the surreal beauty of Venice—a city suspended between water and sky, where history whispers from every stone. Our arrival was part of the Yogyakarta Art Book Fair's (YKABF) participation in the satellite edition of the Index Art Book Fair (IABF), a gathering of dreamers and creators bound by the art of the book. This was no ordinary art book fair; it was an art book fair of art book fairs, a constellation of 15 international organisers, each bringing their unique vision of creativity into one shared space.
YKABF stood out as the only representative from Southeast Asia, a young voice among seasoned counterparts, resonating with the freshness of possibility. To be part of this, to carry the stories and voices of Yogyakarta across oceans, was both an honor and an invitation—to connect, to share, and to be seen in the wider world of art publishing.
Venice itself seemed to greet us with an air of mystery. Locals called the weather unusual—it rained on the opening day, soft droplets that turned the canals into mirrors reflecting the steady stream of visitors. Despite the wet weather, the crowd arrived in numbers, warming the damp air with their presence and curiosity. In the following days, rain fell sporadically, mostly at night, as if Venice itself were setting the stage for introspection and quiet reflection. Yet, on our final day, the sun broke through in full glory, casting its golden light across the city, blessing the moment and perhaps signifying the success of the journey.
For this occasion, YKABF brought with it around 50 carefully selected titles from 20 Indonesian publishers, collectives, and authors—an eclectic blend of voices, each one telling its own tale. Among them was Abundant Possibilities: Pages of Tales from Yogyakarta Art Book, a new publication initiated by YKABF, making its debut in the Venetian light.
As representatives of YKABF and as Petrikor Books, our time in Venice was more than just a moment of participation; it was an awakening to a broader world, a new network of minds and souls committed to the publishing ecosystem. We shared stories, exchanged ideas, and saw firsthand how the power of the printed word can cross cultures, bridging islands and continents. It was a journey that stretched beyond the physical distance we had traveled, opening doors to new horizons, and abundant possibilities that lie ahead.
Venice may have been a temporary stage, but the connections we made, the inspirations we gathered, and the stories we shared will linger long after the canals fade from view, as if carried by the same tides that brought us there.
