STEIDL Book Culture Fireside Chat: Books in the Time of Digital & AI
Date
March 13 2026 (Friday)
7:30PM to 8:30PM
Location
Shop–House by DECK
About
In an age of screens and algorithms, why do artists still make books?
Join a lively conversation on the art of bookmaking and publishing with Theseus Chan, Dayanita Singh, and German publisher Gerhard Steidl. Moderated by Gwen Lee, this one-hour fireside chat dives into the stories, realities, and untold lessons behind making and publishing artist books today.
Expect candid insights, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and the questions you’ve always wanted to ask about books — in a time shaped by digital media and AI.
Join a lively conversation on the art of bookmaking and publishing with Theseus Chan, Dayanita Singh, and German publisher Gerhard Steidl. Moderated by Gwen Lee, this one-hour fireside chat dives into the stories, realities, and untold lessons behind making and publishing artist books today.
Expect candid insights, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and the questions you’ve always wanted to ask about books — in a time shaped by digital media and AI.
Featuring
Gerhard Stiedl
Publisher & Printer | Speaker
Born in 1950 in Göttingen, Germany, Gerhard Steidl founded his publishing house and screen-printing workshop in 1968. Today, Steidl publishes one of the world’s leading programs of contemporary photobooks alongside a select German literature list, and curates international exhibitions. In 2020, he became the first non-photographer to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize at the Sony World Photography Awards, and was awarded the Gutenberg Prize. He founded Kunsthaus Göttingen in 2021. Steidl has received numerous honors, and in 2025 was named among the most influential figures in the global photographic industry.
Dayanita Singh
Photographer, Artist & Bookmaker | Speaker
Born in 1961 in New Delhi, Dayanita Singh studied at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad and the International Center of Photography in New York. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Bookmaking is central to her practice, with key titles such as Museum Bhavan (2017), which won the Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation Photobook Award and the ICP Infinity Award. She received the Hasselblad Award in 2022, and her retrospective Dancing With My Camera toured Europe from 2022 to 2024.
More at dayanitasingh.org | Instagram: @dayanitasingh
More at dayanitasingh.org | Instagram: @dayanitasingh
Theseus Chan
Artist, Graphic Designer & Publisher | Speaker
Born in 1961 in Singapore, Theseus Chan is a book artist and graphic designer known for his experimental approach to printing, materials, and typography. Working with papers ranging from discarded sheets to luxury stocks, he combines offset, silkscreen, lithography, and handmade processes.
He continually reinvents his acclaimed publication WERK, treating each issue as a distinct material and conceptual exploration. Chan has collaborated with artists and brands including Keiichi Tanaami, Rose Wylie, and Comme des Garçons. His work is collected by institutions such as M+, and he was named Designer of the Year at the inaugural President’s Design Award Singapore in 2006.
More at werkmagazine.com | Instagram: @theseuschanwork
He continually reinvents his acclaimed publication WERK, treating each issue as a distinct material and conceptual exploration. Chan has collaborated with artists and brands including Keiichi Tanaami, Rose Wylie, and Comme des Garçons. His work is collected by institutions such as M+, and he was named Designer of the Year at the inaugural President’s Design Award Singapore in 2006.
More at werkmagazine.com | Instagram: @theseuschanwork
Gwen Lee
DECK Co-founder & Director | Moderator
Gwen Lee, DECK’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, has been shaping Singapore’s photography arts landscape. In 2008, she co-founded 2902 Gallery, a commercial gallery for photography. She also established the Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF), now one of Southeast Asia’s longest-running photo festivals. Recognising her artistic impact, Gwen received accolades from the Japan Chamber of Commerce & Trade in 2010 and the Chevalier, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres conferred by France’s Ministry of Culture in 2022. In 2023, she was recognised in Singapore 40-over-40: Inspiring Women as a Social Contributor.
