Yogyakarta Art Book Fair Kicks Off
Initiated by Kunci Copy Station, SOKONG!, and us, the fair aims to create a platform for local and national publishers. The pilot edition, held at JNM Bloc from March 1 to 3, 2024, features diverse programs, including tenant booths, open tables, workshops, book presentations, and talks. The event has garnered positive public interest, reflecting Yogyakarta's intellectual spirit and cultural enthusiasm.
Hariara Sitepu
Disclaimer: All content in this article reflects the subjective view of Petrikor Books and does not represent the opinions of all individuals involved with the Yogyakarta Art Book Fair.
It all started in November of last year. Kunci Copy Station, SOKONG!, and us convened to discuss and plan a shared goal—initiating a program focused on publishing practices. Long story short, the Yogyakarta Art Book Fair (YKABF) was born. This initiative is a celebration of publishing practices, particularly in Yogyakarta, and serves as a distribution platform for those involved in the field.
Despite operating on "time surplus" and driven by a sense of fun, we strive to act as professionally as possible. One critical aspect was carefully considering the appropriate form and format, especially in response to the conditions and character of Yogyakarta as a space and audience. Thus, we decided to launch this initiative with a pilot edition as a test event.
Taking place at JNM Bloc, the Yogyakarta Art Book Fair: Pilot Edition held from March 1 to 3, 2024. There are two participation formats. The first format, termed tenants, involves participants attending directly with booths available for each, similar to art book fairs elsewhere. This category includes ten publishers, nine of which are based in Yogyakarta. This approach aims to provide space for local publishers and mitigate potential risks that could arise if publishers from outside Yogyakarta participated in this trial edition.
The second format, open tables, is designed as a medium for publishers outside Yogyakarta to introduce their publications to the local audience and vice versa. This format aims to expose the Yogyakarta audience to the diversity of Indonesian publications. At least 30 publishers are participating, showcasing hundreds of independently published titles.
In addition to the tenants and open tables, the pilot edition features various other programs, such as workshops, book presentations, and talks, similar to other art book fairs. Public interest has been generally positive, as indicated by the number of visitors exceeding our expectations. The intellectual character inherent in Yogyakarta was palpable and manifested in various forms throughout the event.
Looking ahead, we ponder our next steps. Will the Yogyakarta Art Book Fair continue? Only time will tell, but the enthusiasm and support we've witnessed suggest a promising future for this vibrant celebration of publishing practices in Yogyakarta.
