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