On the occasion of Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair 2020, we convened again, across hemispheres and times changes, to reconsider our collective position and definition.

Distribution Assembly East (DAE) is an occasional convergence in matters of print, thinking fluidly through borders, identities—and the content between covers—by taking up the mantle of “circulation as form.” This year’s selection of publications from East and Southeast Asia centers around the theme of "Shadows,” as movements that course through the channels of the visible, are often elicit, mostly marginal and always essential. For LAABF 2020, the DAE consortium is convened by 八家Bajia, 展銷場 Display Distribute and soi | ซอย.

But then…

So, an earlier a conversation between 八家 Bajia, 展銷場 Display Distribute and soi | ซอย on 2020 March 01/02, 7:00 pm UTC-8, 10:00 pm UTC5, 11:00 am UTC+8, and 10:00 am UTC+7, via text messaging and Skype, was edited, and reflections added in the weeks thereafter, amidst of a slew of cancellations and (pro)longings. For a copy of the conversation, click here or the image to the right.

Distribution Assembly East (DAE) is a conversation and spontaneous convening of independent publishers, publication-making artists and distributors working in, with, and throughout the ‘East.’ 

DAE's first presentation, "On Our Own Disappearance," begins with a contradiction: challenging the geopolitical framework set up for ourselves by working in the East and Southeast Asia regions. Through the small realms of independent print, the margin by which we thrive, we consider the dissipation of borders by writing some new definitions of cohabitation and alliance.

 There is a contradiction at work here –

in the dispersals of distribution,

the gatherings of assembly...

and what of the East?

The selection of publications featured at the LA Art Book Fair — some our own, some from others — have been curated on the simple premise of 'Disappearance' and what this means in the context of 1) border-defined identity politics, 2) contemporary urban sociopolitical phenomena, and/or 3) the precariousness of self-organized practices, spaces and collectives.

This assembly of DAE is presented by 八家Bajia, 展銷場 Display Distribute, Salt Projects and Sponge Gourd Collective.

While it appears that immaterial forms of work, expression and social life dominate the contemporary era, working in the sphere of independent publishing is still highly burdened by the weight of materiality. Books are heavy. The world is big.

As book/zine/journal-makers and distributors ourselves, we constantly battle with the load of global logistics. But, since ABC’s first Beijing fair will bring all you to this northerly capital, we’d like to take advantage of this opportunity and sit down with you all for a chat about distribution.

In collaboration, 八家 Bajia and 展销场 Display Distribute invite you to participate in a one day independent publishing and distribution intensive.

虽然看似网络化非物质化的工作、表达与社交生活正主宰着当下，但是独立出版领域仍受实体物质的重量所累。书籍很沉。世界又很大。

在本次亚洲各地独立出版商之间的关门讨论中，我们期待形成一个新的、后民族时代的协作同盟与分销网络。在一天内的密集讨论中，我们将分析并碰撞出可选择的各种分销形式，从而为亚洲地区志同道合的小型出版商们提供更好的对话平台，并促进形成一个良好的支持体系。

届时，手将相握约将签。后续，敬请期待。