Before deciding to make such a magazine about Chinese art publishing, we spent time looking back at the history of self-publishing and artists’ books that happened and are happening in China. This phase of history can be long, can be short, or hasn’t even really started yet. Following the memory of our growth, we tried to salvage the early Chinese art publications from the ocean of the Internet, revealing the history of freedom and romance, and dive into China’s most vibrant independent music scene.
In the first issue of P_PAL, the professional role and publishing process involved in art publishing serves as the clue of the magazine, and a book is technically disassembled. The cover story of the inaugural issue was filmed in the childhood home of the artist Wen Ling. It talks about the changes in his creation and life and the myths that have influenced the millennium to this day. The cover conception of the designer Ji Yang is also extracted from Wen Ling’s exploration of machine vision in his recent “Camouflage” series. We hope that, like the artist, we can forget our personal experience to observe the world objectively. In this magazine, you can read the art book news on the map of Hong Kong; Guides on the production, distribution, and printing of books, especially Risograph, screen printing, and other art printing methods; An chronological research report on Chinese art publishing, etc.
From the first-person experience sharing to the discussion of “real stuff” technology, to the yellow pages of the latest global art bookstore, and documentary industry observations, these topics may make this magazine look like a scientific publication. But before starting the journey with our book-lover friends, let us enjoy the required courses on art publishing.
● An Apple A Day Supplement
On February 3, 2020, as we didn’t know how long we would be stuck at home, abC launched a one-month online creative relay under the name #An Apple a Day# to mobilize friends to record this special period. In the end, we received a total of 84 “apples” including readers’ contributions, and 32 of them were selected as a supplement in the first issue.
《P_PAL》由abC编辑部创办，是一本关于艺术书和做书人的双语杂志。字母“P”与书、纸张、印刷、出版有关，杂志名也是留给每一位读者的填空题。
《P_PAL》创刊号以如何制作一本书为线索，采访了插画师、设计师、出版方、独立书店和老牌艺术书展的主办者等。除了艺术出版必修课，杂志内容还关注了1970年代至今的香港独立出版和社区艺术生态、以及对中国地下音乐场景中独立出版的特别聚焦。杂志最后特别奉上一篇中国艺术出版的编年式调研报告和一张世界独立书店清单。
这本创刊号兼具展览、批评、记录和档案于一体，还包括一本“每日一苹果”别册，记录疫情期间的线上创作接力活动。
Beijing, China, 2020
Chinese, English
Paperback, 24 x 17 cm, 2 books: 200 p. (Sewn Bound); 64 p. (Spiral Bound)
