PULP February Newsletter

Thank you!

And that’s a wrap! Pulp~Verso’s time at 44 Stanley as a pop up store has come to an end, and we want to extend a big thank you to everyone who supported us – our events, our workshops, and seeing our exhibitions. It has been a wonderful time at the space! If you missed it, don’t fret! All of the products from Pulp~Verso are back in our studio here at Victoria Yards. We have some updates from the studio, including new staff, our latest projects and upcoming events!

Upcoming Workshop!

Join Oteng and Odette for a Valentine’s weekend workshop on Saturday 15 February for a (romantic or otherwise) couples’ workshop at the studio in Victoria Yards! Each participant will make a Japanese Stab Binding notebook. We will guide participants to make a cover for their book with a window to show an Instax photo. Your loved one can carry the memory of this special day with them in their notebook!
The workshop is from 10:00 to 14:00, and will cost R950 per couple. All materials, including film for your Instax photo, drinks and snacks will be provided during the workshop!

Updates from the studio

It’s been a busy January as we worked on so many new commissions and projects! Here are just some of the projects we’ve been working on, as well as some from December!

Cheetah Plains Bookboxes

Nando's Secret Belgian Bindings

Salon Kewpie - a zine

Salon Kewpie: The Legacy Project has developed an interdisciplinary platform that provides queer and disadvantaged youth access to a creative space that engages themes prevalent in the Kewpie Collection. The programme connects contemporary ballroom culture with a rich historical photographic archive, which at its core lies the captivating narrative of Kewpie. Kewpie Fritz (1941 – 2012) was a celebrated hairdresser, performer, and iconic queer figure from the apartheid era, who has come to be known as the Daughter of District Six. Standing as a figure of defiance in the face of prevailing governmental oppression, Kewpie offers us a vital history of resilience, freedom, and belonging. This zine was made in collaboration with the GALA Queer Archive.
The 2024: Visibility zine is available at our store!

Oceanne

This beautiful project is a memory book for one of our young clients.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenston

In collaboration with Old Hat Publishing, Pulp has made these gorgeous, pocket-sized editions of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. These are also available at our Pulp store at Victoria Yards!

Get to know our team members

Meet Alexandra Greenberg! Alexandra joined Pulp last year as an intern and is now a full-time bookbinder. Alex is also a multidisciplinary artist working primarily in drawing which is then translated into video animation. She is interested in archetypical relations that exist in the everyday and the worlds that are created around them that have the ability to disrupt and reform these archetypes. Alexandra is interested in the book as an object that not only is a beautiful and delicate way of containing and conveying knowledge but is also immediately active in knowledge production (in which these disruptions can translated from the created worlds to this one). The repetition that comes with drawing each frame of an animation, scanning it digitally, animating it, then capturing each frame again, printing it out and then finally binding a physical book is reminiscent of the creation of these loops of being and the knowledge that disrupts and reforms these loops. There is something and about a film and a book that canonises these recreated archetypes or mythologies in the real world.

THE MYTHOLOGIES VOL 01 & 02

THE MYTHOLOGIES Volume 01: The Mother and The Monster, and Volume 02: The Lover and The Loop are two flip books that rethink and restructure everyday archetypes through the power of failure! A screen printed cover with a caterpillar binding reinforces this loop that is reformed in the animation. Almost all the copies of this edition of 5 each has sold out, and they will be on show soon!

Here are some more artworks by Alex! She is taking part in the upcoming exhibition of work by recent graduates in the Keyes Art Mile Atrium, entitled The Kids These Days. Go check it out!