Mossless

What started as a Flickr group (2008) morphed into a Tumblr blog interviewing a photographer every two days (2009-2012) and then evolved into an independent magazine and book publishing company (2011-2017), all spearheaded by Romke. The following are a few highlights from its projects.

Issue One: Alone Together (2011)

The inaugural issue of Mossless was a box containing four books, two posters, an essay leaflet, as well as stickers and buttons and in some cases a t-shirt as well. Featuring four New York City based photographers and the essay Alone Together by curator and writer Susan Bright, each with their own booklet. Issue Released as an edition of 500 at Printed Matter and exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art Library’s Millenium Magazines.

This inkjet-printed edition of 100 delicate book that focused on the role of the internet in the conciousness of contemporary artmaking. Released at the New York Art Book Fair with an additional vellum trifold, produced for pre-orders.

A survey of contemporary (and emerging) photography of America with a sequence of over 500 photographs meandering from the desert and ending in the metropolis. Published at an edition of 2500, fundraised through Kickstarter. A set of four risograph and inkjet (mixed pages) zines were also produced for this campaign. Listed as a top photobook of 2014 by Time Magazine ︎

In collaboration with Charlotte Cotton and the International Center for Photography for their new space on 250 Bowery, Mossless produced this ambitious book about portraiture and privacy at an edition of 800. With an eye-catching reflective cover and perforated pages, the book featured dozens of unique projects from a wide cast of international photographers. Of all our books, this contained the most text by far, as each project was complemented by a unique conversation or commissioned essay, alongside additional pieces and poems.

This collaborative project between Mark King and Mossless featured his work of local creatives from his native Barbados, shot in black and white and colored using the plastic bags he found in the area. Using vellum interleaves, this concept was transposed into the book’s format. The book was inkjet printed and hand-bound at an edition of 50 and was released at the 8-Ball Newsstand in the Lorimer-Metropolitan subway station.

Ada Jane McNulty, formerly known as Jake McNulty, Untitled (Statues) (2013)

This project studied the changing tones of unfixed photograms of Greco-Roman sculptures, slowly becoming “swallowed by their own material.” Each book contained a unique print that would become exposed over time whenever the book was opened to that last page. This book edition of 50, inkjet-printed and hand bound book was released at Printed Matter during a concurrent exhibit of McNulty’s larger prints from this series.

This small, edition of 50, inkjet-printed, hand-bound book featured Kang’s collages of various expired photo papers, released at Art Metropole in Toronto.

This simple inkjet-printed, staple-bound book used a printed envelope as a cover. It featured 28 intimate polaroids of Martin’s close friends and was released at the LA Art Book Fair.

This spiral-bound, inkjet printed book was printed at an edition of 20. It featured Perlman’s voyeuristic surveillance aesthetic, spotting glances and moments of tension on cold and desaturated streets, a premonition of a forthcoming political mood. Released at the New York Art Book Fair.

This spiral-bound, inkjet printed book was printed at an edition of 20. It featured Gerace’s expansive collage project in its entirety, 99 portrait images with figures removed and with their backgrounds reconfigured. A delightful visual treat released at the New York Art Book Fair.