FATA MORGANA is an experimental installation curated by Mingke Ben as a temporary third space for printed matter, first presented in 2024, Hamburg. The 78 m² installation explored the printed matter as both commodity and cultural symbol, questioning the bookstore’s role as an institution of power.

Visitors were invited to interact with over 100 indie publications, while the artist remained present in the space, introducing each book and engaging in conversations. In the project, the artist has made several interviews with figures from the publishing field, such as common imprint (Berlin), commercial booksellers in Shanghai, and members of the lumbung network, as well as public events.

A printed program sheet guided visitors through a series of scheduled public events, including readings, discussions, and a performance by the local Fairytale Forum. Through this layered composition of publications, voices, and time-based programming, the installation serves still as both archive and active platform.