About Decadence Books
Decadence Books is an independent archive and research initiative dedicated to photography books exploring eroticism, fetish aesthetics, body culture, and visual subcultures from the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
The project focuses on printed works as cultural artifacts — objects that document artistic experimentation, social change, underground publishing practices, and alternative representations of the human body.
Rather than treating these publications solely as collectibles or commercial products, the archive approaches them as historical documents situated within broader contexts of photography, design, fashion, media, and cultural history.
The initiative is based in Lithuania and aims to contribute to international visual culture discourse while also highlighting regional and Eastern European contributions that are often underrepresented in global archives.
The long-term goal is to develop an accessible digital resource that supports:
- cultural research
- education and public knowledge
- preservation of fragile printed heritage
- interdisciplinary dialogue between art, publishing, and society
Alongside archival documentation, the project also engages in public dissemination through writing, video essays, and curated presentations that explore how visual subcultures evolve and influence contemporary imagery.
Some publications documented in the archive are available for acquisition to collectors, libraries, and institutions. Sales activity supports ongoing documentation and preservation work.