Join us for an evening celebrating the launch of the first issue of Serpentine Reader.
Serpentine Reader is a new online and physical publication focusing on innovation in long-form writing. The yearly publication offers space for deep research, reflection, and creative exploration across various formats.
Committed to slow publishing, the Reader fosters dialogue between established and emerging voices. Featuring contributions from artists and writers passionate about crafting immersive narratives and pushing the boundaries of literary expression, the publication explores editorial experiments and fosters cross-pollination between disciplines.
The inaugural issue explores the theme of “Circulation”—how we move through flows of information, energy, culture, and meaning in today’s interconnected world. From the movement of history to the endless recycling of ideas, circulation shapes how we engage with the world. Whether circulation acts as a lifeline or a loop, a conduit for renewal or a mechanism of constraint, depends on how we choose to engage with it. As Serpentine Reader enters circulation, we invite you to consider the currents we are caught in, the histories we repeat, and the possibilities for breaking the loop.
“Less manifesto, more murmuration – the issue is a loose constellation of voices swirling around big questions: how history moves, how meaning calcifies, and whether anything can truly change. Circulation, as a theme, is both the flow of life and the choke of repetition – a dance of eels and asteroids, rivers and rubber bands.” -Hanna Girma, Editor
Featured contributors include Gary Zhexi Zhang, Hana Pera Aoake, Tosia Leniarska, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Aria Dean.
The evening will feature a special musical response from artist Hinako Omori and cocktails crafted by chef Nil Mutluer. Limited-edition physical copies of The Reader, designed by Louise Camu, will be available for purchase. The night will conclude with a DJ set by Manuka Honey.