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Motto was started by Alexis Zavialoff in 2007, and initiated as a distribution company for Switzerland, specializing in magazines and fanzines, a service which hardly existed before on the Swiss territory.

The number of available publications kept growing and it now comprises more than 3000 titles, the catalogue being constantly updated. After establishing collaborations with major international distributors, the interest in books and smaller self-published items came naturally and it now constitutes a major part of Motto’s focus.

The Swiss territory remains a primary interest for Motto Distribution. Around twenty outlets display titles distributed by Motto: independent bookstores, chainstores, galleries, museums and concepts stores in Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva and Basel. Events are organized regularly, with a particular eye for art school environments and art spaces. Motto also collaborates with libraries.

In December 2008 Motto opened its first permanent bookstore, in Berlin-Kreuzberg. The store is a natural progression from the traveling temporary bookshops that Motto has organized since 2007, first in Switzerland and then internationally. The locations include Vilnius, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Moscow, Vancouver, Stuttgart, Athens, Seoul, Tokyo, Paris.

One of the main focuses of Motto is to offer the possibility of finding back issues of selected magazines, and also a wide selection of artists’ publications, including more experimental projects in sometimes very small print runs.

The location, an old frame factory in a Kreuzberg courtyard, strongly influences the spirit of the project. The space, a single room of 90 m², is furnished in old dark wood. Shelfs and glass showcases allow a rotating display of selected publications. A long table and chairs in the middle of the space allow friendly browsing.

Motto Berlin regularly functions as a space for book and magazine presentations, as well as special evenings dedicated to different discussions around publishing about art, graphic design, photography, typography and related matters.

Motto Zürich is located in Perla-Mode, a place with many other ongoing projects such as Corner College and
Message Salon and formerly Nieves Books and Wartesaal. The publications displayed complete an intense programmme of exhibitions, screenings, talks and presentations.

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Alexis Zavialoff > az@mottodistribution.com

Akiko Watanabe > akiko@mottodistribution.com
Géraldine Beck > geraldine@mottodistribution.com
Joe Shakespeare > joe@mottodistribution.com
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Motto Berlin
Skalitzer str. 68
Im Hinterhof
10997 Berlin
U1 Schlesisches Tor
tel: +49 (0)30 75442119
fax: +49 (0)30 75442120

Monday-Saturday, 12.00 - 20.00
View map

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Motto Zürich store
Perla-Mode
Langstr. 84
8004 Zürich

Thursday-Friday: 2-7pm
Saturday: 12-5pm

zurich@mottodistribution.com

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Motto Distribution - Switzerland
31 route du Merelet
CH-1042 Assens
tel: +41 764203557

Any reproduction of contents, materials or images from Motto’s archive is prohibited without written permission from Motto’s staff.

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We buy books!
Monographs, exhibition catalogues, artist books, magazines back issues…
Please contact us at mottodistribution@gmail.com