Manifold Books
Kraijenhoffstraat 34, 1018RL Amsterdam
please note: the entrance is located in the corridor between number 30 and 32

regular opening hours (during exhibitions only): Fridays and Saturdays from 1-5 pm, or make an appointment via e-mail or Instagram

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location: MAP

publication launch Be My Ghost
Saturday September 12
17:00 doors open
17:30-18:00 Arefeh Riahi
in conversation with Maartje Fliervoet,
Martín La Roche Contreras and Valeria Marchesini
from Good Neighbour
18:00-19:00 drinks

please RSVP via info@manifoldbooks.nl
by September 10 and let us know a day in advance
in case of cancellation

maximum capacity: 25
language: English



Dear reader,

We would like to invite you to the publication launch of Be My Ghost by Arefeh Riahi on Saturday, 12 September, from 5 to 7pm at Manifold Books in Amsterdam.

Be My Ghost is a project by Arefeh Riahi, conceived as a tripartite sound piece in English, presented at Manifold Books between March and July 2026. This publication collects the transcript of these three letters, originally written in Farsi by the artist, in which she takes Manifold Books’ founder, Maartje Fliervoet, on a fictive walk. Initially, she intended this journey to be a phantom ride through Tehran, her hometown. However, the writings unfolded differently, casting light on the struggle of sharing across cultural boundaries. The work explores the relation between the migrant and the so-called host, complicated by the factor of time. Be My Ghost includes English and Farsi translations and is accompanied by a visual contribution by Maartje Fliervoet titled From Us to us. Book design by Dongyoung Lee, published by Good Neighbour Books. Printed and bound by no kiss, Amsterdam.

In an open conversation Arefeh Riahi, Maartje Fliervoet and Good Neighbour will speak informally about the realisation of the sound piece and its translation into a publication. During the evening, visitors can listen to Be My Ghost, which will be installed in the space.

See you soon,
Manifold Books

About our current year programme Of Ghosts and Flowers
Of Ghosts and Flowers proposes a transition from our 2024 programme The Sphinx's Riddle around grief and transformation to an exhibition and event series about non-linear time experiences in 2025 and 2026. The urgency for this arose from the content of this programme, and how the system of linear time imposed on us disintegrates in the face of death, grief and profound mental and physical transformative processes. In addition, it feels urgent to formulate alternative forms of dealing with time because our system of linear time is linked to our growth-oriented economic system; the biggest driver of climate change. The embodied sensations we will look into include non-human perspectives as well as human ones. Of Ghosts and Flowers departs from the work of Rosemary Mayer (1943-2014). More information on upcoming shows and activities will follow soon.

From March 6 to July 19, 2026 the sound piece Be My Ghost by Arefeh Riahi was installed in our staircase. Please find the soundfiles here:
episode 1, episode 2, episode 3

In Be My Ghost Arefeh Riahi takes the listener on a metaphorical phantom ride. The sound piece consists of three letters written and read by the artist in which she takes Manifold Books’ founder Maartje Fliervoet on a fictive walk through Tehran, her hometown. Departing from her long term engagement with hauntology and undecidability, the work explores the relation between the migrant and the so-called host, complicated by the factor of time.

Post production sound recordings Be My Ghost by Erfan Abdi.
Special thanks to Radio Alhara and Lara Khaldi.

Be My Ghost has been made possible by:
Stroom Den Haag
Mondriaan Fonds
AFK

Sadly, we are currently unable to process any unsolicited project proposals.

~So far, Manifold Books has organized shows/projects with: Arefeh Riahi, JJJJJerome Ellis, Francisca Khamis Giacoman, Steve Kado, Clem Edwards, Rosemary Mayer, Natalia Papaeva, Philipp Gufler/the Paul Hoecker Research Group, Dagmar Bosma, Katja Mater, Daniel Godínez-Nivón, Ana Navas, Marianna Maruyama, Nicoline van Harskamp, Selma Selman, Dan Zhu, Ada M. Patterson, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Isabelle Sully and Matt Hinkley (Unbidden Tongues), Hadassah Emmerich, Eileen Quinlan, Melissa Gordon, To See the Inability to See, Ada Van Hoorebeke, Kato Six, Riet Wijnen, Patricia Esquivias, Aglaia Konrad, Özlem Altın, Gwenneth Boelens, Barbara Neves Alves, Baha Görkem Yalım, Martín La Roche Contreras, Dongyoung Lee, Maartje Fliervoet

Each of these artists have made unique book interventions, see a selection of photos

About Manifold Books
Founded in 2015 by Maartje Fliervoet in her Amsterdam studio space, Manifold Books’ activities may be best described as a spatial investigation exploring connections between art and books. With each exhibition a few titles are added to its book collection (all including artists’ interventions). Manifold Books has received funding from: the Mondriaan Fund (2019, 2023-2026); AFK (2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2026); het Cultuurfonds (2021-22, 2024 and 2025), Stichting Symbio (2025), the Netherland-America Foundation (2025). This year, its programme will be supported by the AFK, het Cultuurfonds, Pictoright Fonds, Stroom Den Haag and the Mondriaan Fund. 


Manifold Books is a foundation with an independent board consisting of:
Arnisa Zeqo (chair)
Stephanie Noach (secretary)
Paul Domela (treasurer)