During this years Leipzig Book Fair (smow) hosted an evening of readings by three Swiss authors under the title “Neue Stimmen from Switzerland” and hosted by SWIPS – Swiss Independent Publishers.

Ahead of the readings we spoke with one of the organisations founding members, and former President, Liliane Studer from Dörlemann Verlag about the organisation and its work.

(smow) You’ve been associated with SWIPS since the very beginning, just quickly as background what was the reason for forming SWIPS?

Liliane Studer: The initial idea was to help the smaller independent publishers to achieve a greater visibility and also to create a structure where we could help one another, for example with distribution and marketing co-operations or as here with joint trade fair stands. Until now we’ve only been to fairs in Switzerland, here at Leipzig is our first time outside the Swiss border.

(smow) SWIPS currently comprises 25 publishers – is there a principle focus?

Liliane Studer: Non-fiction is currently the main focus of most publishers but we also have publishers with mixed programmes – so fiction and non-fiction. And recently a couple of art book publishers have joined.

(smow): And how healthy is the Swiss book market at the moment?

Liliane Studer: For publishers it is very difficult when they only concentrate on the Swiss market unless they have a strong regional focus. But then the young authors don’t want to be simply Swiss authors whose books are only sold in Switzerland. We have a large germanophile community and the Swiss publishers need to be active in this area

(smow) And in this sense how important is Leipzig Buchmesse, given that it is your first foray into foreign fields?

Liliane Studer: It’s principally important because Leipzig is a public fair where book reading has a central role. And so the organisers place great importance on the smaller, independent publishers and they’ve been very helpful especially in terms of making sure that we could have so many readings. But also as a small publisher it is important that you are present in those places where book readers are, where one has a public who are looking for new books and new authors.

(smow) Aside from the marketing co-operations, in how far are SWIPS involved with political lobbying?

Liliane Studer: We have very good contacts to the central Swiss Publisher Association and they undertake the political work. But clearly we support them whenever asked.

(smow) A final question. We notice that the stand doesn’t come from Switzerland – but Cottbus. Couldn’t you find a good Swiss furniture producer?

Liliane Studer: It is a Swiss designer. It’s also a very good example of how SWIPS work. Martin Wallimann is a small publisher and SWIPS member who knows a Swiss Architecture professor who teaches in Cottbus. And so Martin asked him if designing a SWIPS stand wouldn’t be an interesting project for his students. He said yes, organised a competition amongst his students. And this is the winner.

The SWIPS – Swiss Independent Publishers stand at Leipzig Book Fair. Swiss designer furniture (via Cottbus)

One of the most famous – and arguably professionally relevant – phases in Verner Panton’s life was his journeys through Europe.
Following his graduation from Copenhagen Art school Verner Panton gave up his position with Arne Jaobsen, converted his VW bus to a basic mobile studio and set off on a series of tours throughout Europe during which he made contact with numerous designers and producers.

While its probably fair to say that this experience alone didn’t shape his future work – the journeys did what all such experiences should do and opened his eyes and mind to new ideas, new approaches and new possibilities.

And so helped form the European Verner Panton.

Given this background it is therefore not unsurprising that Verner Panton’s work also travels so well.
It is after all in the genes.

At the Leipzig Buchmesse we were given a privalleged preview of a forthcoming travelogue written by one of Verner Panton’s younger chairs

In “Jordan isn’t just a tabloid creation” Verner, Panton Chair junior describes the adventures he experienced on a road trip undertaken with a group of strangers from Stuttgart to the Jordanian capital Amman.

An illustrared novel “Jordan isn’t just a tabloid creation” is principally written for children, is however told with a tongue in cheek directness that means adults will find their own amusement in many of the tales.

And although still very much a project in development, the first cosplay Panton Chair characters could already be seen within Leipzig Messe.
Which certainly bodes well for the future.

“Jordan isn’t just a tabloid creation” by Verner, Panton Chair junior wont be released until the autumn, but we can exclusively offer a few sample pages.

The first is printed below, a further four can be found exclusively on the smow facebook page.

The travels of Verner, Panton Chair Junior. Coming soon

In a past life we earned our living from grapes – we grew them and others turned them into wine.

Back then our year had a comforting cadence and seasons that meant something.

Then came our wild period in the international designer furniture world – days and months merging, senselessly, into one another.

Thankfully, older and wiser our year once again follows the peaceful, pastoral, pattern of old.

January IMM Cologne

February Stockholm Design Week

March Leipzig Buchmesse

etc

etc

etc

Aside from checking up on the latest design related book releases we’ll be checking out who uses what furniture, keeping our eyes out for fakes – yes ***** we mean you and your dodgy…. – as well as enjoying  the season of readings in the (smow)room Leipzig.

For Buchmesse 2011 the colleagues in the (smow)room have once again organised a varied selection of works. And an interesting red wine to help with the post work relaxation.

The perfect preparation for the forthcoming journey to the fires of hell that is Milan!

(smow)Liest Leipzig Buchmesse 2011:

Thursday 17th March @ 1930hr : Neue Stimmen from Switzerland – Heike Fiedler, Jens Steiner und Yusuf Yesilöz

Friday 18th March @ 1930hr: Thomas Mahler: In der Schlange – Mein Jahr auf Harz IV

Saturday 19th March @ 1930hr: Markus A. Will: Bad Banker

Leipzig Buchmesse 2011: Flying the flag for international publishing. Probably

While critics denounce such as an easy and obvious way to generate content – for us reviewing the past year is an important step in planning our activities for the coming year: where to go, who to talk to, what to sit on and, just as importantly, what to ignore or give up.

The only real problem for us is that in preparing such we realise just how much material we haven’t had the chance to use – and so receive an impression of how much more material we will acquire in the coming year.

Heck!

Reading Table by Uli Budde @ Designers Fair 2010 Cologne

The year started, as ever, with IMM and Designers Fair in Cologne. Aside from the opportunity to roll out a few anti-carnival gags the trip introduced us to some wonderful new products/designers, specifically; Uli Budde, Christian Lessing, Martin Neuhaus, Alexander Gufler, maigrau, Tim Baute etc, etc, etc…

A further highlight was the introduction of Herbert Hirche’s Interbau 57 armchair through Richard Lampert.

Negative was the lack of innovation and – if we’re honest – quality on display at IMM. For Germany’s most important furniture trade fair it just simply wasn’t good enough.

Let’s see what IMM 2011 brings.

In February we were then on much safer ground with the opening of the VitraHaus on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein and a visit to the MoormannHaus in Aschau in Chiemgau.

Moormann Haus, Aschau in Chiemgau

Aside from the way the VitraHaus majestically appears before you, for us the real joy is the decision to include “non-Vitra” items in the displays – very much in the spirit of Charles and Ray Eames‘ “Collage” principle of interior design.

If we did have one wish for 2011 it would be that rather than only including established designers, that Vitra include one or the other design from a young designer or two in the VitraHaus exhibition space.

VitraHaus is big enough to give young talent a chance.

While the MoormannHaus is every bit as spectacular a piece of architecture as Vitra’s, the real highlight of the trip to Aschau was Berge - the Moormann auberge

Much more than a delightful base for a trip to the Bavarian Alps – Berge is much more a wonderful introduction to the Moormann philosophy.

In March (smow)airport systems premiered their range of USM Haller based airport solutions at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2010 in Brussels. Created in cooperation with USM Haller , (smow) airport systems have developed a range of solutions for both operative, Lounge and Retail areas of airports – solutions that were very well received by the PTE visitors.

The company name and structure may have changed since PTE 2010 but we will be at PTE 2011 in Copenhagen to both follow the development of the project as well as to report on other developments in airport / public area furniture world.

Full house in the (smow)room for the Leipzig Buchmesse readings

Back in Leipzig March is Buchmesse and March 2010 saw the most successful series of readings ever in the (smow)room in Burgplatz.

Ever!

Starting with Grillsaison from Philipp Kohlhöfer and then moving on over “New voices from Switzerland” to “Meine Frau will einen Garten” by Gerhard Matzig the three readings provided three very different if equally enjoyable experiences.

More so in 2011 !

For people who spend most of their working lives sat at desks, publishers and authors have a frightening disregard for comfort when it comes to chairs.

Or at least they do if the furniture we saw at the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse was a measure of the industry norm.

Cheap folding chairs, cheap copies of designer furniture classics being presented as originals and general cheap tat as far as the eye could see.

Fortunately one or two of the exhibitors seemed better informed. Below a few snapshots of some of the happier moments of the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse from a designer furniture perspective:

French/German culture channel ARTE with Swan Chairs by Arne Jacobsen from Fritz Hansen

French/German culture channel ARTE with Swan Chairs by Arne Jacobsen from Fritz Hansen

German news channel Phoneix with Tom Vacs by Ron Arad for Vitra

German news channel Phoneix with Tom Vacs by Ron Arad for Vitra

MDR with LEM by Shin and Tomoko Azumi for lapalma

MDR with LEM by Shin and Tomoko Azumi for lapalma

Reclam Verlag with a USM Haller reception desk.

Reclam Verlag with USM Haller

Reclam Verlag with a USM Haller reception desk

Fachhochschule Potsdam with a tribute to fellow Brandenburger Egon Eiermann. Eiermann table frames from Richard Lampert and SE 68 chairs from Wilde + Spieth.

Fachhochschule Potsdam with a tribute to fellow Brandenburger Egon Eiermann

SE 68 chairs from Wilde + Spieth

And perhaps most impressive of all the students of Bauhaus University Weimar who had, in our eyes, a stand as dedicated to Block by Frank Gehry from Vitra.

Block by Frank Gehry from Vitra

Bauhaus University Weimar

We can only the hope the situation improves for the Leipzig Buchmesse 2011.

But please, with better quality furniture

(smow)liest, Liesmichl holds: Meine Frau will einen Garten by Gerhard Matzig

A garden is for relaxing in on a summers evening.

For growing vegetables.

For having a cheeky cigarette when you’re supposed to be finishing the accounts.

A garden is also a metaphor for growing up, maturing. Getting older.

In the final (smow)liest event for the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse, journalist and author Gerhard Matzig presented his own personal tale of the journey from carefree urban youth to responsible suburban middle age.
And to a garden.

In front of a potentially illegally overfilled (smow)room, Gerhard Matzig began by outlining and  explaining the problems of family life in a city centre flat. In the following hour he then led the (smow)audience through the stages – physical, mental and emotional  -of the journey that one must complete on the way to becoming a garden owner.

Easy it ain’t.

But amusing.

Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of “Meine Frau will einen Garten” is, at least for us, Gerhard Matzig’s outbursts at designer furniture and contemporary architecture.

In his “real life” Gerhard Matzig is, amongst other jobs, architecture correspondent for the Suedduetsche Zeitung. As such the sarcasm and criticism come from a specialist viewpoint, and so are particularly well aimed.

With his unhurried, personal approach Gerhard Matzig brought each episode perfectly to life and as such ensured both a fitting, and highly enjoyable, end to the 2010 (smow)liest.

More of the same next year!

Meine Frau will einen Garten by Gerhard Matzig is published by Goldmann Verlag.

Gerhard Matzig signing copies of Meine Frau will einen Garten at (smow)liest

(smow)liest, Liesmichl holds: Roman Graf, Ursula Fricker and Arno Camenisch

For us Switzerland means three things.

USM Haller

Tax avoidance.

Phil Collins.

With the evening “Neue Stimmen from Switzerland”, organised  by SWIPS – Swiss Independent Publishers – and supported by Pro Helvetia, the (smow)room in Leipzig hosted the second (smow)liest event during the 2010 Leipzig Buchmesse.

And proved that the Alpine Republic, does have more to offer. A lot more.

Roman Graf opened proceedings with his debut novel “Herr Blanc”. As a young man Herr Blanc left possibly the only women with whom he could be truly happy. And spent the rest of his life regretting the fact; without realising it. Only at the end of his life, when any hope had – literally- died, must he face the truth that was his life.

The themes of lost love, failure and the eternal search for elusive happiness were then continued in “Das letzte Bild” by Ursula Fricker. In her second novel, Ursula Fricker tells the tale of photographer Flloyd and the, less than succesful, reunion with his 15year old daughter. Set in the wilds of rural Brandenburg, “Das letzte Bild” is a dark, brooding celebration of human nature and fate.

Swiss furniture, Swiss author - Arno Camenisch and USM Haller

The final author Arno Camenisch brought a new tone to the evening. And indeed another language; Romansh. Although officially presented as Arno Camenisch’s first German language novel “Sez Ner” springs back and forth between German and Romansh. And that to great effect. Superficially a comic novel, “Sez Ner” is much more a novel the uses comedy to explore issues of human relationships and the daily problems we all face.

The evening was expertly hosted by Berlin based, Swiss born, journalist Michael Angele who, in addition to presenting the three authors and their works, also stimulated and guided the various discussions.

Is Herr Blanc typically Swiss? And what is Swiss? Can a Swiss author write in German, or should they write in regional dialects?

All in all Neue Stimmen from Switzerland was a highly entertaining and at time thought provoking evening that was very well received by the (smow) audience.

And thankfully no-one thought about Phil Collins the whole evening.

Herr Blanc by Roman Graf is published by Limmat Verlag Zürich.

Das letzte Bild by Ursula Fricker is published by Rotpunktverlag.

Sez Ner by Arno Camenisch is published by Urs Engeler Editor

Michael Angele, Ursula Fricker, Roman Graf and Arno Camenisch

The smow library

The snow is finally gone from the streets of Leipzig and that can only mean two things.

Dangerously large holes in the roads.

And Leipzig Buchmesse.

And as in 2009 (smow) is once again taking part in Leipzig Liest – Europes largest public book reading.

(smow)liest begins on March 18th with Grillsaison from Philipp Kohlhöfer. Less related to the Cobb Pro, Grillsaison is a humorous, occasionally deeply ironic, journey in search of the real Germany. David Hasselhof included.

On March 19 (smow)liest hosts the somewhat confusingly titled “New voices from Switzerland”. Profiling three young authors, only one of whom comes from Switzerland, the evening promises exciting new literature and an entertaining mix of literary styles.

(smow)liest 2010 ends on March 20th with “Meine Frau will einen Garten” by Gerhard Matzig. The desired garden is not directly intended for the newly purchased Vegetal and Bubble Club Sofa, but rather is a synonym for the eternal choice between the city life of ones carefree youth and the suburban life of responsible middle age.

In addition to (smow)liest the Leipzig Buchmesse and Leipzig Liest features numerous new – and not so new – publications on designer furniture and contemporary design. We will bring you reports and reviews of the best and worst of this years festival under (smow)liest.

The slightly more impressive Design Library in Milan