te editions (New York, NY and Beijing, China) is an independent publishing house founded in 2023. te editions explores the intersection of the arts and humanities, and examines the historical and contemporary social landscape through a diversified and microscopic lens, focusing on how cultures encounter, collapse, and transform each other within the global cultural flow. Driven by “curatorial thinking on paper” in our editorial approach, we hope to stimulate new discussions informed by a genuinely interdisciplinary perspective. te editions has been a partner of the A.R.T. Library Program since 2024.

A.R.T. Library Program Questionnaire gathers insights from librarians and publishers within the Program's distribution network to reconsider and reflect on what it means to make art books public today.

• How do you characterize the books that you publish?

te editions started out as an annual bilingual magazine. In 2023, we launched our artist book project, which challenged us to create more profound and standalone content rather than just compiling articles. In terms of format, it allows for greater experimentation with choices like paper and binding. We were motivated by the observation that many young artists lack the experience and resources—such as funding, editors, and publishers—and are often unfamiliar with the process of making books. We are committed to working closely with individual artists who have strong research backgrounds to help them publish their artist books.

We address contemporary issues from a distinctive art and anthropological viewpoint, always aiming to engage reader communities with a broad interest in culture. All of our publications are bilingual, rooted in both China and the U.S., but with a global outreach in mind. Translation is a crucial aspect of our work. Most of our publications take over a year to produce, and as editors, we are deeply involved in every step of the process.

• How would you define the audience for your books?

We aim to forge connections between the local and the global, the east and the west, and the individual and the community. We have a diverse readership that spans various cultural and racial backgrounds. Our typical audience are people with multiple cultural backgrounds, wishing to further their global perspective, such as overseas students, visiting scholars, and people interested in culture exchange.

We are always mindful of the underrepresentation of gendered and racialized communities in our publishing. For instance, in our second issue, we featured an interview about immigrant women in Taiwan, and in our third issue, we showcased the outcomes of a workshop focusing on Filipina women working abroad. Upon arriving in the U.S., we found that many readers, whether long-established immigrants or recent arrivals, resonated with these stories. Looking ahead, we plan to continue this focus to highlight the underrepresented experiences of Asian communities in the U.S.

• Has the way books are distributed changed in the last five years? (If so, how does it affect what or how you publish?)

I believe it's constantly evolving. We primarily distribute our publications online, through independent bookstores, and at art book fairs. As a small print-run publisher, we have a niche audience. However, we are eager to expand our distribution to academic institutions and libraries, allowing for free and public access to our work.

• When did you start participating in A.R.T.'s Poulin Project?

This is our first year working with the A.R.T. Library Program. We discovered the program through Wendy’s Subway, one of our favorite reading spots in New York City.

• How do you decide what to donate to the program?

We decided to donate as many different titles as possible, ensuring they align with the program’s interests. We believe all of our artist books are unique, continually challenging the concept of bookmaking, and we would love for more people to have the opportunity to see and read them.

• How does the A.R.T. Library Program complement your distribution strategies?

Our books have market value, which helps us continue producing them, but our ultimate goal is to distribute them to libraries, institutions, and various communities. We believe that this is the best and most fitting destiny for our books. However, as independent publisher, it has been challenging to approach public institutional spaces, as not all accept direct donations, and the process can be time-consuming when done individually. The A.R.T. Library Program complements this effort perfectly, which is why we are eager to collaborate with them.