The End(s) of the Library, common room, 2013

Curated by Jenny Jaskey, The End(s) of the Library addresses how library configurations have given way to new forms and revised values in the digital age.

For the spatial design conceived by common room, bookshelves within the Goethe-Institut New York library were rearranged on a parallel axis along a central corridor allowing an overview of the collection and opening up space in which the invited artists could create interventions. Five frames measuring 48 × 48 × 67 7/8 inches were fabricated to provide a flexible system for display and partition.

The exhibition identity was based on the visual reference to a traditional book page and the website was designed based on a javascript page turn animation for a digital book. The website is navigated page by page with the page turn transition.

Participating artists included David Horvitz; Julieta Aranda, Fia Backström & R. Lyon; Christan Phillip Müller; and The Serving Library.