Khaos, the nothingness of which all else sprang

Publisher Iina Esko, photo by Hilla Kurki

Khaos began after Iina Esko’s first self-published book on Finnish DJs in 2013. This book marked the start of a journey into the world of publication, which has also included Esko’s self-published artist’s zines not included in Khaos’ selection. Since 2015, Khaos has evolved from focusing on subcultures to encompassing broader explorations of the arts and society. From 2015 to 2020, Khaos also operated a shop for independent publishers at Kosminen space.

The physical store was complemented by a webshop with nearly 200 titles, making it the only collected digital platform in Finland for independently publishing artists and authors to sell their publications. However, maintaining such a platform required a huge amount of unpaid labor and eventually ended, allowing Khaos to focus on publishing rather than selling. Following the closure of the shop, Khaos underwent a transformative shift, reaffirming its mission to preserve and deepen culture through profound narratives.

Khaos believes in the transformative power of books to foster cultural conversations and connect diverse audiences. A book's life extends far, as it travels from hand to hand and can be found in libraries and archives long after the authors have passed. Khaos is concerned about the traditional publishing model, where publishing houses collect most of the profits while artists, who should own their work, remain in precarious positions. To create a better publishing environment, Khaos advocates for open discussions about the resources required in funding and labor from all parties involved in the publishing process.