In this episode of Book Making as an Art Form, I speak with Jochem Öfner, Director of Printing at Drukkerij Raddraaier, an Amsterdam-based printing house with roots in activist print culture.
Founded in the late 1970s during the Dutch squatting movement, Drukkerij Raddraaier emerged from a network of independent print shops producing books, posters, pamphlets, and political materials when mainstream printers would not.
In our conversation, Jochem reflects on the radical history of the press, his own journey from wanting to “make the revolution” in Central America to working in print, and how the politics of publishing remain embedded in the act of printing itself.
Together, we spoke about:
The activist roots of Drukkerij Raddraaier
Freedom of the press before and after the Internet
The environmental realities of print and digital publishing
Why sustainability in printing is more complex than it seems
The importance of keeping independent print production alive
Tune in now for a conversation on activism, sustainability, and the politics of print.
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Produced and hosted by Justina Nekrašaitė | The Book Photographer
Audio productions: Drexhage Media | Jasper Drexhage
Design: Thom Niessink
Recorded at Stedelijk Museum Library
Communication & promotion: Chana Levy
❤️ Season 2 is supported by Pictoright, Het Cultuurfonds, and many big-hearted individuals via Voordekunst.
With particular appreciation to our principal supporters:
Ruth Higgins, Luminosity Lab, Eleonoor Jap Sam / Jap Sam Books, Silvia Robertelli, Wilco Art Books Amersfoort, and Marc Gijzen.
