Conlan Eliseu is a vampire and an out-of-vogue fashion stylist who takes a job as an advisor at the Gatlin Finishing School, a three year vocational program for talented teens in a theatre town. Human teen Doeke Schreyer wants to be a star and isn’t afraid of hard work. Will his corporeal charms help him exceed the curse on his name, inherited from his adoptive parents?

Published by MUMA and After 8 Books, Paris, Production marks the fourth instalment in Australian born, Amsterdam-based artist Ivan Cheng’s Confidences series of vampire novels. The book explores the process of preserving the past, whether through imagery or restaging.

This publication coincides with NP, a newly commissioned performative exhibition at MUMA, taking place from 17–21 September 2024. NP is named for the abbreviation of ‘no problem’ (like you’re replying to thanks), ‘no place’ (like you’re dealing with citation), and ‘North Pole’ (the fantasy place of production and wish fulfilment for Santa and his elves, making gifts to distribute to kids). Cheng invites audiences to reflect on seasonal gift economies and monocultural globalism while considering live and imagined audiences—both collective and individual. NP features recent video and performance documentation, creating an environment for scheduled and spontaneous interventions.

Published on the occasion of the performative exhibition Ivan Cheng: NP
17 – 21 September 2024

softcover, 18.4 x 10.2 cm, B&W
Text: Ivan Cheng
Design: Sabo Day
Edition: 600

Distribution: France & Belgium: Interact, Paris. United Kingdom: Art Data, London. Rest of Europe: After 8 Books. The Americas, Asia, Australia: Distributed Art Publishers, New York