Colophon 2011

Sleek

Sleek

Winter 2007

18 cover(s) available
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Sleek

Issue 06 (02.2005)

1 spread(s) available
view all

B20 publishing GmbH

Magazine for art and fashion

Sleek provides a platform for contemporary art, photography and fashion.

Berlin, Germany

Email: info@sleekmag.com

• Category: Art, Fashion, Photography
• Periodicity: Quarterly
• Language: English / German
• Format: 220 x 280 mm
• Price: 9.50 €
• Web: http://www.sleekmag.com

Founded in 2002

Sleek provides a platform for the most significant visual disciplines of our time – contemporary art, photography and fashion. Sleek is monothematic and bi-lingual (German and English), published in Berlin and distributed throughout Europe, and to a small extent in the USA and Japan, with a total circulation number of 25.000 copies. Each issue’s theme is composed of two concepts which form an antithesis or create a tension between one another. By emphasising the visual, the magazine is an opulent feast for the eyes, but it is not to be flicked through: within its pages lie also context and argument – sleek aims to establish a connection between glamour and intellectual substance.

Exclusive Interview

Simply Sleek

What is your magazine about?
The magazine is driven by two fundamental beliefs: 1. that contemporary art is one of the most important visual disciplines of our time and for years to come. 2. that contemporary art would increasingly interrelate to fashion, both socially and to some extent even in terms of exchanging creative impulses. Thus, we try to combine the glamour of fashion with the intellect of contemporary art.

Who's behind the project? Tell us about the founders, their backgrounds and their motivations!
Founded in 2002, sleek magazine must be one of the oldest continuously published independent magazines in Germany. It was set up by Lothar Eckstein against the advice of many well-meaning friends - with almost no backgorund in print publishing.

How do you produce one issue? How much time do you spend on it? How big is your team?
We are a small, essentially Berlin-based core team of 5-6 people. We all believe that circulation and impact are closely related. Often, but not always! The core team works all year round and around the clock.

What have been the important steps in the life of your magazine?
The magazine was originally set up in Hamburg. Moving to Berlin was important and a major step. The creative scene is more suited to independent publishing here than in most other German cities. Also, contemporay art has moved here almost completely. To get started and noticed, it was important to have won a number of design, printing and creative awards.

Which are the key ingredients for the success of your magazine?
Being curious, stubborn and ignorant.

What are the difficulties you are confronted with? What would be the thing to help the magazine to improve?
Underfinancing and lack of access to the advertising market. Generally lack of critical mass on the business side.

Where do you want the magazine to be in five years?
A bit bigger and a bit more relevant. Better staffed. Still mainly print.

Tell us about your audience! Who are the readers of your magazine?
Mainly German speaking, visually driven and urban people interested in art and fashion beyond the mainstream.

Is remaining independent important to you? Is it part of the strategy?
No. It is not a goal in itself. Being part of a group on the business side would help - as long as it doesn't affect being true to your audience.

What's your relationship with advertisement? Does it influence your content? Do you care about advertising-driven-editorials?
We have a pragmatic relationship. In fashion, the line has always been a very fine one. Even in art, overlaps with commerce have become less of a no-no. As long as it is out in the open and readers know what they get, we don't see a big issue.

What do you think of your issue 01, when you look back at it?
I try not to remember it.

Magazine favorite(s) that inspired you in your career.
Purple, Dazed&Confused, ID.

Do you keep old copies of magazines? If so, what is your favorite in your collection?
I do keep old copies. My favourites probably are some issue of German newsmagazine "Der Spiegel" from the 50s with my name in cigarette advertisements on their back cover.

How many magazines do you buy / get / read each month? Do you qualify yourself a maniac?
I used to be a maniac - but I have calmed down these days. Only 5 per week.

We are compiling answers from some of the most innovative magazine makers around the world today. Who else should we ask?
Liebling.

Answered by Lothar Eckstein (publisher) Magazine: sleek magazine for art & fashion Email: l.e@mac.com Date: 30-09-2008

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Produced by Mike Koedinger in collaboration with Casino Luxembourg - Forum d'art contemporain