New formats, new roles, new agents: Artists’ publications in Spain since 2000

“More than half a century has passed since the legendary 1960s, which are unanimously considered the era of the expansion and consolidation of artist publications—although, in fact, their beginnings date back to the Russian avant-garde, Futurism, and even earlier moments. It could be said that this medium has entered a new golden age: in recent years, the appearance of new books and artist’s publications in general has proliferated rapidly, as has the interest shown in them by curators, public and private collections, and even the media. In the contemporary art scene in Spain, in particular, the phenomenon is even more pronounced: over the last decade, the intensity, quantity, and impact of artists’ publishing activity have experienced an unprecedented explosion. This essay aims to identify the causes that have given rise to this intense activity, highlighting its main features, presenting some of the protagonists of this phenomenon, and identifying sources of information that may be useful in documenting its course. The field of study, however, is very broad…”