The Book Is on the Table: Artists Share Their Treasured Books in Florence

A new series of encounters in Florence invites artists to present books from their personal collections, treating the book as both object and relational medium. Titled "the book is on the table," the cycle is organized by two independent publishing projects, aosta publishing and mazoopub, within the shared space half n’ half at via Palazzuolo 87r, part of the Recreos initiative by Fondazione CR Firenze. The first event featured Jacopo Benassi on September 11, 2025, followed by Gianni Pettena on October 2. Upcoming sessions include Marco Mazzoni (date not specified), Giuseppe Di Mattia on November 13, and a final meeting with Cecilia Cirillo & Stefano Giuri on November 27. The project emphasizes the physical and intimate experience of handling books—some fragile or valuable—and fosters direct dialogue between artists and the public. Co-founders Marco Mazzoni (mazoopub) and Stefano Giuri (aosta publishing) describe the initiative as a natural extension of their editorial practices, which treat printed matter as architectural space or artistic work. The encounters are free and open to all, aiming to create a convivial atmosphere around a shared table.