Hello everyone,

Tomorrow morning I fly from Melbourne to Wellington, NZ for Photobook NZ. In 2024 this was the first book fair that happened overseas that really popped off for me. It was an incredibly affirming process that helped me feel excited.

That month, August 2024, I had a lot of good news and had some great financial outcomes for my art and Tall Poppy Press. I really look back at that time as pivotal and exciting. I felt like it was actually happening.

This year I go back with a similar amount of positivity. While in 2024 I taught a workshop and sold books, this year I am teaching two workshops, reviewing people’s work, opening an exhibition and participating in the book market. I have been generously welcomed to the festival and have flights and accommodation paid for. It’s a real boon.

If you’re in NZ please come to the opening of my exhibition Ten Eighty at The Engine Room tomorrow, or the Photobook Market at Te Papa museum on Saturday.

I have also this week announced the launch of three new books:

a) Nobody Knows I’m Gay - lesbian archives from the 70s-90s in Sydney

b) Site Specific II - 280 pages of exhibition reference guide

c) How to make an Art Book in Australia - 32 pages of how to get a book made in Australia and the costs, recommendations, etc

Pre orders make the world go around so if you’d like either of the first two a pre-order would be extra lovely. The third I print off and make at home, so as they are ordered I construct them, which is quite fun.

I feel a bit guilty that I’ve left this newsletter drop and that my weekly writings have become fortnightly, then monthly. I often have brainwaves of what I’d like to share, but then the demands of parenting hit and I just can’t find the energy or motivation to get down to it.

I wanted to share a hit list of some publishing world things:

1) With the end of the financial year in Australia I was able to see that the business did surprisingly well - and that with the help of my girlfriend I was able to rejig how I work with artists to better reflect real costs.

2) My big data analysis is all done and it looks quite interesting - I’ve hit my long-time goal of selling 1000 books (1078 in the last financial year) and the newer books are noticeably more profitable and higher quality.

3) My time in WA was a smash hit, with the workshops being quite fun and the launch of Duncan Wright’s Dancing Unconscious going swimmingly. Thanks to all who came.

4) Each month for the rest of this year has one fair or selling activity. I’d like to do more but one is not a bad place to be. Photobook NZ, Seoul Publisher’s Table, Same Page Art Book Fair, Overprint Art Book Fair and Tokyo Art Book Fair - time to sell some books!

5) I will also be doing some Casual teaching in August, September, October and November - with a bit more free time and my partner staying at home with the baby I need to head out and bring in maximum cash. I feel a bit weary even thinking of doing a day job while having a baby but nearly everyone in the world does so time to find some grit and get on with it.

6) I was recently interviewed by Matthew Poburyny and I really got into the weeds with business and curation. I really enjoyed it.

I hope that in NZ I can sell $2000 worth of books, etc, so I will report back on Monday from the airport.

Much love,

Matt