→ Illographo Press

Established in 2021.

Illographo Press is an independent micro press – publishing art and photo books, poetry chapbooks, and zines – run by Aphrodite D., a Filipina multidisciplinary creative who is passionate about using the art of publication to create equity and empower creativity in Greater Western Sydney and beyond.

Aphrodite is a Design (Visual Communication) alumna from Western Sydney University and an experienced designer, illustrator and printer, hence the name Illo + grapho + Press. During the COVID lockdowns in 2021, Aph started producing poetry zines, photo books and anthologies featuring a diverse community of creatives. She fell in love with the process of publishing – turning a creative idea into a tangible piece of art, thus, Illographo Press was born. Since then, Illographo Press publications have been showcased at various exhibitions and stocked at independent bookstores in Australia and abroad.

Exhibition & Zine Fairs

Melbourne Art Book Fair, NGV (2024, 2025)
Fanzineist Vienna (2025)
Zine Space, Granville Art Gallery (2025)
Other Worlds Zine Fair (2024)
Festival of the Photocopier (2024, 2025)
Athens Zine Bibliotheque (2024)
Grafixx Fest Antwerp (2024)

Stockists

Wolfbound Books (Parramatta, NSW, AU)
Magenta House (Redfern, NSW, AU)
Good Earth Bookshop (Wentworth Falls, NSW, AU)
Little Lost Bookshop (Katoomba, NSW, AU)
Sticky Institute (Melbourne, VIC, AU)
Good Press (Glasgow, UK)

Publications

Purchase a copy from one of our stockists or contact us to order.

blue is how i know you (BIHIKY) by Samantha Lee Curran

An exploration of how people show up in our lives, and the colour they paint over it. BIHIKY features a unique blue-hued collection of Samantha’s poetry and delicate embroidery art – printed in ocean blue ink on sandy white paper. The cover title is blind embossed on Adriatic coloured stock, inviting the reader to touch and feel the book to enhance their visual and emotional experience of the poems within.

From cover to cover, BIHIKY envelopes the reader with a deep sense of serenity and calm. The featheriness in Samantha’s tone of voice and the lyrical strength in her poetry create the perfect serenade to awaken the blue bird in the readers’ hearts.
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Words and images by Samantha Lee Curran
Edited by Israa Merhi
Book design and typesetting by Aphrodite Delaguiado
Published by Illographo Press
Publication date: 26 April 2025
ISBN: 978-0-6457234-7-2
Size: 60 pages, 132mm x 197 mm, Perfect-bound
Printing & binding: Blind embossed cover on 300gsm Colorplan Adriatic blue; Text - one colour PMS 2195U on 80gsm Clare ivory
Edition: 500

full transparency by Aphrodite D.

The whole poetry zine is printed on translucent paper so you can see through the pages. All poems are open secrets if you read between the lines.

full transparency is the sixth volume in the 'colour' series following evergreen, winter blues, white noise, red flag, and black book.

Black ink on 90gsm vellum. Printed in-house, hand-folded & sewn by Illographo Press.
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Written, designed, printed and bound by Aphrodite D.
Published by Illographo Press
Publication date: 29 March 2025
Size: 24 pages, A6, 105mm x 148mm, hand-sewn
First Edition: 20

From Baybayin to Abakada by Reese Claro

A multilayered zine written, researched and designed by Filipino-born creative Reese Claro and published by Illographo Press. In this zine, Reese weaves childhood memories from growing up in the Phillipines, personal anecdotes as a first generation migrant in Australia, and historical documents to illustrate the impact of colonisation on the culture, vernacular, and way of life of the Filipino people and diaspora.

From Baybayin to Abakada is a tri-lingual publication divided into three sections: the Pre-colonial Philippines (Baybayin), the Spanish Rule (Abecedario/Español), and the Post-American Colonisation of the Philippines (Abakada/Tagalog); based on the ruling power and the main writing systems used in the Philippines during that period.
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Researched, written and designed by Reese Claro
Published by Illographo Press
Edited and prepared for print by Aphrodite D.
Bound by hand by Maricris Espinosa at the Wolfbound Books bindery

ISBN: 978-0-6457234-8-9
Publication date: 15 March 2025
CMYK printed on HP Indigo
Main book: 176mm x 250mm (B5); Magenta tip-in: 105mm x 148mm; Dark blue tip-in: 99mm x 210mm

Only Hands by Aphrodite D & Malcolm G.

A visual poetry inspired by the artistic form, unique textures, and sculptural features of the subject’s hands. The photographs capture the depth and character of Malcolm’s hands––how they interact with other parts of his body, how they engage with the light and how they blend in with the environment.

The multi-layered zine uses various papers and folding techniques inviting the reader to intimately engage with the publication. The fastener can be removed to unravel hidden images and the page order can be rearranged. The viewer’s experience of the zine can also be personalised: the transparent vellum prints can be placed over different backgrounds to create a new scene, designed to inspire connection, creativity and collaboration between the subject, the artist/photographer, and the reader.
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Hand Model: Malcolm G.
Photographer: Aphrodite D.
Concept, photography & publication design by Aphrodite D.
Black and white, printed in-house on acetate, vellum and newsprint paper; dark gold fastener; bound by hand by Illographo Press.
Size: A6 zine with fold-out spreads, 10 pages
Publication date: 8 February 2025

Only Hands (AGNSW) by Aphrodite D

A new series of art & photo zines by Aphrodite devoted to the study of hands. This zine features close ups of hands found in paintings at the Art Gallery of NSW Grand Courts and 20th Century Gallery.

“I have always struggled with illustrating hands and I admire great artists who can skilfully conjure up images of hands on paper, canvas or mural with such realism and life. My eyes are always drawn to the allure, mystery, imperfections and character of the hands of the people I meet, hence, they are my favourite part of the human body to photograph and film. The purpose of this zine is to serve as a reference and inspiration in my pursuit of mastering the intricate art of capturing hands.”

Watch the making of Only Hands.
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Concept, photography & publication design by Aphrodite D.
Printed in-house on leather grain, linen and vellum paper; and sewn-bound by hand by Illographo Press.
Size: A6 zine, 16 pages
Publication date: 8 February 2025

Tingala (Look up) by Aphrodite D.

“In 2021, I challenged myself to look up and take a picture of the sky everyday for an entire year. I first published the images in CLOUDS (2022), a 28-page broadsheet newspaper zine, and now I’m presenting them here in Tingala. This expanded book edition showcases the unique perspectives and experiences I captured over 365 days.”

Watch Tingala teaser video.
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Photography, text & book design by Aphrodite D.
ISBN: 978-0-6457234-3-4Publication date: 24 May 2024
Size: 370 pages, 156 mm x 234 mm, Perfect bound

Aesthetics of Longing by Nikola Amanovic

A collection of photographs byproducts of flaneuring-wandering around-through the Balkans between 2009-2014. Through the lens of his 35mm film and digital cameras, Nikola takes us on a pilgrimage from his birthplace of Knin to the streets of Serbia’s capital city-Belgrade; from the war-torn province of Kosovo and Metohija to the warm seas of Boka Bay in Montenegro.

Aesthetics of Longing gives a rare and genuine insight into the elusive past of Former Yugoslavia and the persistent melancholy in the hearts and minds of the Yugoslav diaspora. Nikola’s photographs are raw, unfiltered and seeping with nostalgia. His stories are imbued by a sentimental longing for a time and a place that no longer exists - a collective emotion that connects millions of displaced refugees and migrants from all over the world.

Watch Nikola’s interview.
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Words & images by Nikola Amanovic.
Book design by Aphrodite Delaguiado.
Published by Illographo Press.
ISBN: 978-0-6457234-5-8
Publication date: 23 May 2024
Size: 160 pages, 210 mm x 297 mm, Perfect bound
Edition: 100

i love you in the most platonic way possible (ILYITMPWP) by BEA

A poetic exploration of the many forms and languages of love. BEA’s poems are words of affirmation, love letters and confessions fearlessly peeling back the layers and colourful nuances of platonic relationships that one can’t help but feel seen.

Featuring the best of BEA’s love poems from 2020-2023, ILYITMPWP is a must-read for anyone with a big heart.

Watch’s BEA’s poetry reading.
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ISBN: 978-0-6457234-4-1
Publication date: 21 May 2024
Size: 78 pages, 138mm x 197 mm, Perfect bound
Edition: 200

ПАС. Никола

Никола има посебну везу са псима. Ове слике су настале током његових путовања по Балкану. Свака слика је успомена извајана у времену.

DOG: Nikola has a special bond with dogs. These pictures were taken during his travels in the Balkans. Every image is a memory sculpted in time.

Watch the unboxing video.
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Publication date: February 2024
Published by Illographo Press.
Size: 90x90m, 20 pages, saddle-sewn, printed on 150 gsm Eco stock
Edition: 50

Cat Anthology by various authors

A collection of poetry, short stories, photography and art inspired by our feline friends. This book is a love letter to all cats and a tribute to the humans who love them.
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Book design by Aphrodite D.
Cover art by Maja Aaby Pedersen
Edited by Clare Shiu
Contributors: A. C. Blake, Arlene Flores, Astra & Rui, BEA, Bethany Molineux, Daniel Carrington, Ela Pinar, Emelye Tracy, Estee Sarsfield, J. Marahuyo, Joan Dobbie, Joanne Macias, Kayla Puse, Kring Espinosa, Kristie Lee, Lamisa Haque, Lance Jethro, Lucy Foster, Maja Aaby Pedersen, Marc Cerrafon, Marcelo Diaz, Michelle Exhales, Nikola Amanovic, Pax Valentine, Phillip Sabolta, Pious Agyeman, Steven Pearman, and Vivian Pham.

Published by Illographo Press
ISBN: 978-0-6457234-2-7
Publication date: 9 February 2024
Size: A5 Paperback, 112 pages

META by Aphrodite D.

In 2018, Aphrodite Delaguiado began writing a novel titled Lone Wolf. As art imitates life and vice versa, her writing journey gave birth to META.

In META, Aphrodite weaves poignant illustrations, heartfelt poetry and prose, to tell the story of an artist’s metamorphosis into a writer. The book features 64 pages of words and art, including an excerpt from her unpublished novel, Lone Wolf.

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Size: A5 Hardback and Paperback, 64 pages
Publication date: 17 April 2023
ISBN: 978-0-6457234-0-3 (Hardcover); 978-0-6457234-1-0 (Paperback)

Dog Anthology by various authors

A collection of poetry, short stories, photography and art inspired by our canine friends. This book is a love letter to all cats and a tribute to the humans who love them.
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Book design by Aphrodite Delaguiado
Cover art by Cash Vicente
Contributors: Alex Travers, Grace Dulawan, Cash Vicente, Margaret Hwang, Kristie Lee, Troy Campbell, Paolo Lapuz, Marc Cerrafon, Lance Aguas, Karl Planes, Kayla Puse, Paz Moreno, Mauricio Quilpatay, Marcelo Diaz, Athena Lucas, Zeila Vicente and Kring Espinosa.

Published by Illographo Press
ISBN: 978-0-646-84211-0
Publication date: 23 August 2021
Size: A5 Paperback, 88 pages
Edition: 200

Poetry and Prints for Palestine by The PVB and Illographo Press

A tribute to the enduring Palestinian spirit–“Like seeds, we grow”. The beautiful cover art by Wasielah Noorsjamsi depicts poppies symbolising the unbreakable connection that Palestinians have with their land and the bloodshed they have endured.

Curated and edited by Lamisa Haque. Featuring works by Palestinian poets Noor Mo’alla and Narelle Odeh, together with over 50 local and international artists who contributed pieces to show solidarity and support for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and across the diaspora.

Poetry & Prints for Palestine launched on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 at the October Bankstown Poetry Slam.

ALL proceeds from this book were donated to Olive Kids Foundation and Muslims Around The World (MATW) Project.

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ISBN: 978-0-6457234-6-5
First Edition, Second printing 200
Size: Royal 243mm x 156mm
Page number: 92 pages
Curated and Edited by Lamisa Haque
Cover artwork by Wasielah Noorsjamsi
Book design by Aphrodite Delaguiado
Published by Illographo Press

Contributors: Aida Ismail, Aishah Ali, Ali Al Haj, Amuor Malou, Anaum Zahid, An.Other Collective, Aphrodite D., Areebah Armani, Ata Hindi, Atoc Malou, Ayşenur Kara, BEA, Maia.b.creative, Christos Floratos, Dana Kafina, Ela Pınar, Farhana Ismail, Fazilat Rafiq, Fitra Rahardjo, Flora, Haneen Mahmood Martin, Hannah Habgood, Iman Ibrahim, Isabella G. Mead, Jana Dermelkonian, Jassim Al Muraibt, Joanne Macias, Kevin Ngo, Kyle Montgomery, L.P., Leon Kannangara, Lifi Hakim, Louis Jaccoud, Maja Aaby Pedersen, Maria Mubeen, Mayy Abuljebain, Medina Siregar, Narrelle Odeh, Nikola, Noor Mo’alla, Priyanka Bromhead, Rabia Munawar Mir, Ranjini Ganapathy, Richard Trang, Sasanki Tennakoon, Sydney Searchwell-Simpson, Vaughn Upward-Garcia, Vivian Pham, Wasielah Noorsjamsi, and Yasuko Toda.

We acknowledge the Burramattagal and Dharug people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land where we live, work and create. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. Always was, always will be.

Aphrodite D. Illographo Press Wolfbound Books School of Zines About Manifesto ©2025

Aphrodite D.

Illographo Press
Wolfbound Books
School of Zines

About
Manifesto

©2025