What can a book be? A leporello that unfolds over several metres. A multifaceted archive of texts, photographs, videos and sounds. An object that can be fanned out and viewed from all sides. Or a limited edition in which every single page is a work of art in its own right.

With Fischers Fang, the Kunstpalais presents for the first time the extensive donation made by Karl Manfred Fischer to the City of Erlangen: around 550 artists’ books, portfolios, pictorial works and editions collected since the 1970s. Together, they form a vibrant universe encompassing a wide range of experimental and contemporary artistic practices.

Artists’ books exist at the intersection of art and literature, image and text. They are works of art in their own right, in which the book becomes both a medium and an object of artistic exploration. Alongside traditional book formats, the collection includes conceptual and object books, collages, elaborate concertina books, collections of loose sheets and multiples made from a variety of materials – ranging from unique works and very small print runs to authorised editions.

The exhibition offers a focused first glimpse into Fischer’s multifaceted collection. On display are issues of the artists’ magazine Entwerter/Oder, publications from Hybriden-Verlag, and artworks by Hartmut Andryczuk. These are complemented by works from the West Berlin post-punk band Die Tödliche Doris, the multidisciplinary artists Elisabeth Masé and Lea Draeger, as well as independent artist-run publishing projects and compelling contributions from the region.

Image 1: Elisabeth Masé, Baby-Baby, Hybriden-Verlag, Berlin 2025, 29 x 21 cm. Elisabeth Masé © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026

Selected books from the Karl Manfred Fischer Collection. Photographs: Annette Kradisch.