Shared Letters / ABC Berlin

Upcoming Exhibition / Abc – art berlin con­tem­po­rary / Berlin, Allemagne
A pro­ject by Romain Chenais and Jason Hwang, Shanaynay, Paris

Invited for the « Upcoming Exhibitions » pro­ject, Bétonsalon – Centre for Art and Research chose to invest the two avail­able hours according to a tem­po­rality con­trasting with the fair’s one. Relocating the pro­ject Shared Letters, started in Paris by Katinka Bock in col­lab­o­ra­tion with Castillo/Corrales book­shop, Bétonsalon - Centre for art and research offers a tem­po­rary space for reading and sharing around a few books selected by the artist.

During the « Playtime [1]» pro­ject organ­ised in 2009, Katinka Bock had spread 100 hand-molded ter­ra­cotta bricks through the public space sur­rounding the Art Centre. Following the artist’s wish, people who wanted to take one of these art­works away had to offer a book to Bétonsalon in return. Although ephemeral, this work enabled the con­sti­tu­tion of a per­ma­nent library which is now located in the entrance of Bétonsalon. The books can be bor­rowed by the vis­i­tors, for a period which cor­re­sponds to the nec­es­sary time to read them. These books are thus clas­si­fied not by theme or genre, but according to their loan period.

Bétonsalon - Centre for art and research now wishes to revive this pro­ject, which ques­tions both the cir­cu­la­tion of books and art­works. A part of the library, moved from Paris to Berlin, is here avail­able for con­sul­ta­tion or loan for two hours. Four bricks from the 2009 pro­ject, given by the artist, have more­over been spread in the fair. They are exchange­able, by those who will find them, for a book of their choice. This propo­si­tion, inviting to explo­ration, reading, and sharing, thus opens a series of events that will extend Katinka Bock’s ini­tial pro­ject.

http://www.art­ber­lin­con­tem­po­rary.com/en
http://www.shanaynay.fr