I’m a photographer and a publisher who has been taking photos in and of Palermo for over three decades, resulting in the books such as Softly Walking (Charta), Palermo Unsung (Steidl), D’Agati Vucciria (89books), Marzia’s Family (Steidl), Palermo Panorama (Steidl). Human condition, marginalized communities, particular aspects of urban life were always of my artistic interest. In 2018 I have established an independent publishing house 89books that is based in Palermo that apart from a small residency program and collaboration with internationally renowned photographers provides a possibility to local young and established authors to publish their photobooks.
In the last weeks of the quarantine I’ve started to go for a walk each time exploring another part of the city, at times walking for hours, at times returning home in 40 minutes. This practice which is close to flâneuring yet different allowed me to deal with distress created by social isolation but also to assess specific changes into the urban landscape. As a result, I have documented 9 walks pinning each photo to the map and indicating exact time when it has been taken. Each itinerary demonstrated the limits of my physical capacity to walk and explore the city on foot. At the same time the photos represent the city of Palermo without its people posing a number of questions. Whether it’s still Palermo being emasculated in this brutal way or it’s the people who constitute its flesh and blood? Being stripped down from the daily recklessness has its exquisite architecture purified? How do we inhabit public spaces and animate them with our presence?
The City that No One Has Seen (89books) is not only as a reflection of the lockdown but a prospect for the future that might help to understand better social tissue of the city.
The City that No One Has Seen is a collection of 9 walks documented in the medium of photography. For the book I have commissioned a journalist and a writer Eleonora Lombardo to write a short story that would narrate the same story but using another medium.
Mauro D’Agati
89books is an independent publishing house based in Palermo, Sicily.
Established in 2018 by photographer Mauro D’Agati, it specialises in photo-books and artist books. 89books is committed to the discovery and experimental publication of limited edition photo-books of different forms and contents. Some of the books will be presented in a first edition of 89 copies, except for artist books that could be produced as a collector’s piece or publications printed in offset.
By combining the expertise of the team and its network of collaborators, which feature local printers, binders and artisans, 89books aims to assist and promote the production of artists who use photography as their main medium and strive to compile a unique publication.
89books draws its inspiration from travels, accidental encounters and thought-provoking dialogs with peers and is largely driven by contingency, curiosity and passion.
Mauro D’Agati : The City that No One Has Seen
Text by Eleonora Lombardo
Book design by 89books
304 pages
13,5 x 24 cm
137 black and White photographs
Digital print
Softcover + dust jacket uv printed on Setalux
ISBN 978-88-944092-7-7
€ 40,00
https://www.facebook.com/89books/
https://www.instagram.com/89books/
