Dik Fagazine
Karol Radziszewski
Arts & Men
DIK Fagazine is the first and the only magazine from Central and Eastern Europe concentrated on art, homosexuality and masculinity.
DIK Fagazine is showcasing the specificity of homosexual culture and male image in post communist countries. Each issue of DIK Fagazie is developed into a unique artistic concept of its creator and publisher – artist Karol Radziszewski who founded the magazine in 2005. DIK Fagazine is filled with contributions by artists such as: Wilhelm Sasnal, Dan Perjovschi, Zbigniew Libera, Artur Zmijewski, Rafal Bujnowski, Katarzyna Kozyra, Pawel Althamer, Slava Mogutin and Brian Kenny, interviews with extraordinary people and genuine reportages.
The magazine’s scope of interest covers art, photography, literature, comics and fashion. The experimental layout and iconic logo of DIK Fagazine is designed by Monika Zawadzka.
Warsaw, Poland
Ul. Batalionu Parasol 14/33, 01-118
Email: dik@dikfagazine.com
- Category: Art, Lesbian/Gay
- Periodicity: Bi-Annual
- Language: Polish / English
- Format: 210 x 285 mm
- Circulation: 1,000 copies
- Price: 10 €
- Web: http://www.dikfagazine.com
Founded in 2005
Exclusive Interview
On Arts and Men
What is your magazine about?
DIK Fagazine is addressed to everyone interested in arts and men. You will find there a lot of art, nice interviews, photography, literature, comics, fashion and nice guys. In terms of task DIK Fagazine is showing the international audience what is going on in Central and Eastern Europe.
Who's behind the project? Tell us about the founders, their backgrounds and their motivations!
I have always wanted to run my own magazine. One day, I just decided to do it. I called to my friend she is a graphic designer, and I asked if she were interested in helping me with it. When she said yes, I knew it will work out. I created a general idea of the magazine and Monika designed our logo and a fantastic layout. This is how DIK Fagazine was born. I also started to search for the people who would help me making this magazine by contributing. Step by step, around DIK Fagazine quite cool people started to gather creating a specific small community.
How do you produce one issue? How much time do you spend on it? How big is your team?
Everytime it is different. Monika Zawadzka, is DIK is art director and she creates every issue, but the concept for issue is always my idea. Fortunately I don't have to work too long to convince Monika to my idea as we usually have similar aesthetic vision. Pawel Kubara helps me with the production and communication. He also works with me as the editor. Michal Zygmunt , Stefan Ingvarsson editors and Kuba Dabrowski photographer, they are my permanent collaborators. This group is evolving depending on the issue. My brother Kamil supprots me a lot with the magazine and many jobs that normally few people do. Magazine is above all the interviews and art works so our main task is to find some interesting personalities, who we want to present on our pages. The magazine is released irregularly because particular issue is ready only when we are fully satisfied with all the materials for the content. Sometimes it takes two months, sometimes it is half of the year.
What have been the important steps in the life of your magazine?
I think the important thing was the change from artistic kind of fanzine to the magazine with a special concept for each issue. From 48 pages to 112. Another decision was a extension the scope of our interests on the whole Central and Eastern Europe. We started with Ukraine, Romania. Now we are trying to involve people from Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia.
Which are the key ingredients for the success of your magazine?
We are trying to changing all the times, growing up with our readers. We are not afraid of experiments as for the design, color of paper which is different in every issue, typography as for the content. We are also proud of our exclusive contributions by great artists.
What are the difficulties you are confronted with? What would be the thing to help the magazine to improve?
At the beginning we had some problems with a homophobia in Poland some printing houses were even rejecting the job. It is much better now.
Where do you want the magazine to be in five years?
On the top.
Tell us about your audience! Who are the readers of your magazine?
All those who are interested in art and want to discover something new about masculinity. They are openminded individuals searching for niche and things they wont find anywhere.
Is remaining independent important to you? Is it part of the strategy?
It is the main thing about DIK Fagazine. I am running and financing it by my own so it appears whenever I want and it is me to decide about the content. No compromises.
What's your relationship with advertisement? Does it influence your content? Do you care about advertising-driven-editorials?
We hardly publish any advertisements unless from our point of view, they are worth that. We select them very carefully and customize.
What do you think of your issue 01, when you look back at it?
It have to be done. It was important but I like the way how the magazine evolve.
Magazine favorite(s) that inspired you in your career.
I love what started from Andy Warhol's Interview that is people, personalities, interviews. I like to read interesting conversations, watch some unique pictures. I just like the magazines which are a kind of objects of art, a whole concept. I like to touch them. I like the way how Warhol used the magazine as a part of his concept of art, as a medium equal to paintings or films. It sounds very familiar to me.
Do you keep old copies of magazines? If so, what is your favorite in your collection?
I was collecting many things included magazines but suddenly I realized that my flat is to small. I actually have some unique zines from eighties the most rare is the Polish queer zine published by the homosexuals involved in Solidarnosc movement in Gdansk.
How many magazines do you buy / get / read each month? Do you qualify yourself a maniac?
I buy few but read several. I wouldn't consider myself a maniac.
We are compiling answers from some of the most innovative magazine makers around the world today. Who else should we ask?
Perhaps guys from PAPERBACK magazine.
Answered by Karol Radziszewski (publisher, editor in chef)
Magazine: DIK Fagazine
Email: dik@dikfagazine.com
Date: 03-10-2008
Publisher
Karol Radziszewski
ul. Batalionu Parasol 14/33, 01-118, Warsaw, Poland
Email: karol@szuszu.pl
- 2044
- 5180
- 2482
- 662
