#thelibraryofunreadbooks

[hemanchong]

The Library of Unread Books is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm and is now currently located on the ground floor of International Plaza, a building next to Tanjong Pagar. If you have any books that you’ve bought but have not read (and don’t wish to read), please bring them to us and someone else will read them for you. It’s a wonderful way to absolve your guilt. A contemporary public confessional booth approved by the Vatican. Come and take part in this socialist project of transforming private property into a public commons. #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #Bookstagram #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #SingaporeBiennale2022 #SingaporeBiennale #Singapore #LibrariesOfInstagram #TheGirlWhoKickedTheHornetsNest #StiegLarsson #10000YearsOfArt #bookstagram #book #books #booksbooksbooks #ilovebooks #bookstagrammer #readmorebooks #allthebooks #booksofig #booksofthemonth #bookstack #booksonbooks #library #libraries #librariestransform #librariesoftheworld (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClVWczQLDm7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

What is luxury? Anything that is not essential to life and that, once everyone has it, is rather annoying. —Solution 264, “Public Poverty” Having furnished solutions for Germany and Dubai, Ingo Niermann takes a new look at what nationhood can mean and accomplish today, finding inspiration, of all places, in North Korea. Now that the promise of global prosperity and abundance can technically be fulfilled, the time has come for a minimalist rethink of society. By relying on drills and a principle of reduction, the individual can be granted a freedom for experiences and ideas that are not possible otherwise. The more we simplify, the lighter the ballast we'll have to carry. The twelfth volume in the Solution series includes an account of Niermann's travels through North and South Korea, accompanied by the author's photographs. The eleven solutions in Solution 264–274: Drill Nation build from insights culled while on the trip. Published to coincide with the Real DMZ Project 2015, curated by Sunjung Kim and Nikolaus Hirsch #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #DrillNation #IngoNiermann #RealDMZproject2015 #RealDmz #NorthKorea #SouthKorea #Bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookaddict #booknerd #bookphotography #booklove #bookcommunity #library #librarylife #librarybook #sternbergpress #libraryofinstagram (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck5Ov7qLJx_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

Species of spaces and other pieces is a book that I’ve read many times but it somehow found it’s way into The Library of Unread Books. Mind boggling. #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #SgBiennale #SingaporeBiennale #SingaporeBiennale2022 #SpeciesOfSpaces #speciesofspacesandotherpieces #GeorgesPerec #Book #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #ilovebooks #bookstagrammer #welovebooks #unreadbook #booklover #bookphotography #bookreview #bookcommunity #booklove #bookrecommendations #library #libraries #librariesofinstagram (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkfEtY1rrog/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

My Dear Bomb by Yohji Yamamoto. #YohjiYamamoto #MyDearBomb #mydearbombyohjiyamamoto #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #book #booklover #bookaddict #booknerd #bookphotography #bookstagram #booksofig #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #ilovebooks #bookrecommendations #bookstack #library #unreadbook #librarylife #librarybook #libraryporn #libraryfun #sgbiennale #singaporebiennale #singapore #archivingsg #internationalplaza #singaporeartmuseum (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkXbFZ5LnbW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

I’ve always wondered about the sheer amount of unread cookbooks that are lying as props in someone’s kitchen. Thanks for sharing this with everyone, Naomi! The Library of Unread Books is now at Unit 1-22 at International Plaza next to Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. We are open everyday from 10 am to 7 pm. Come and donate all the shit you haven’t read and someone else will read it for you! #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #SgBiennale #SingaporeBiennale #SingaporeArtMuseum #Library #UnreadBooks #UnreadBook #bookstagram #book #booklover #bookaddict #booknerd #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksbooksbooks #booklovers #bookrecommendations #allthebooks #bookcover #bookgram #bookporn #librarylife #librarylover #librarybook #libraryforall #librarygoals #library📚 #libraryflow (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkSjgLKLbru/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

The Library of Unread Books is open every day between 10 am to 7 pm. Bring as many unread books of yours and allow someone else to read it for you. We are at #01-22 International Plaza, right next to Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Here is one of our biggest fans, Serpentine curator Amal Khalaf laughing at a very bad joke. #AmalKhalaf #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #SgBiennale #SingaporeBiennale #Singapore #InternationalPlaza #Library #Libraries #librariesofinstagram #librariestransform #librariesoftheworld #SerpentineGallery #Books #bookstagram #UnreadBooks #BooksofIg #booknerd #bookaddict #librarybook #libraryfun #libraryhaul #ilovethelibrary #ArchivingSg #SGArt #sgbookstagram (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkK-M0LLkfp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

A library is a space where you can spend time with yourself. Come and spend time in The Library of Unread Books if you’re feeling exhausted and tired of dealing with the world. We provide the downtime. Bring your unread books. Someone else will read them for you. #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #thelibraryofunreadbooks #sgbiennale #singaporebiennale #singapore #archivingsg #library #libraries #librariesofinstagram #librariesofig #librariestransform #libro #librarybook #libraryporn #unreadbook #HamburgerBahnhof #AnnaCatharinaGebbers (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7mT-UrIiu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

X is obviously very very obsessed with this book. 😂😂😂 #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #SgBiennale #SingaporeBiennale #Singapore #books #howtoreadapersonlikeabook #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagrammer #readmorebooks #bookaddict #booknerd #bookblogger #bookphotography #booklove #library #librariesofinstagram #librariesofig #librariesoftheworld #librariesareawesome #xzhunowell #guggenheimcurator #guggenheim #internationalplaza (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj16jKKBGvx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

It’s only apt that the very first visitor to this current iteration of The Library of Unread Books is @janedebevoise from the @asiaartarchive! The Asia Art Archive made by @klarahsu remains one of the most inspiring projects in Asia and beyond. It has influenced my work and my ways of thinking about art. Jane found Lee Kit’s book from his Venice Pavilion curated by @mrhorseyung! Hong Kong represent! #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #AsiaArtArchive #JaneDebevoise #HongKong #LeeKit #YungMa #Singapore #InternationalPlaza #SgBiennale #SingaporeBiennale #books #book #library #libraries #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #booksofig #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #booklover #bookaddict #bookphotography #librariesofig (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cje0r4TLeLk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

Making a common resource pool of surplus material. Step 1 Identify a surplus resource in your community that may be of use when shared with or redistributed to others. Think for example about different materials, objects, but also immaterial things such as knowledge and skills. Step 2 As a group decide on how you will gather this surplus resource, where it will be gathered and who will be its temporary custodians. Decide also on whether you want to open up the collection beyond your group or community and how that might impact your decisions. Step 3 Consider how you intend to redistribute the resources: will they stay inside the space for people to use? Can people become a member of your common resource pool? Will people be allowed to take the resources they need? Step 4 In the space, find a way to visualise - either by bringing the objects or something that represents them - the surplus resources that you have. Allow people to browse through them, categorize them and make them their own. It is important to consider different ways in which a resource can be regenerated, this does not need to be through redistribution but can also happen inside the space. Step 5 Depending on your decisions, offer a membership card, or support in letting people decide which resources they may want and need to take with them. Step 6 Throughout this experiment discuss questions of ownership: what does it mean to own something you don’t use? How is finance and ownership related when it comes to the resource you are sharing? What does a lack of access to this resource do to people? And what does an excess of this resource do to others? This recipe is derived from The Library of Unread Books and composed by the Commons • Art team. The Library of Unread Books asks questions about ownership and the relationship between wealth and knowledge. It brings to light once-hidden-away titles to emphasize shared knowledge, and functions as a common resource pool of knowledge that is not contingent on financial means. It also brings together a network of worldwide, lifetime members of this library. #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #Casco #NTUCCA #JameelArtsCenter #Library (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjdYWjsJ6Di/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

Today is all about moving thousands of books out of storage from one room and transporting them into another room. Special thanks to our wonderful volunteers @vewgumi @annnfilmmm @jetpackbluues for being such a great team to unpack the books! @renee_martine and I have been running @thelibraryofunreadbooks since 2016 and it has been installed in so many amazing spaces and we are always grateful that institutions are constantly requesting to host us. We are totally dependent on your kindness. It’s a very satisfying process to create and run an unlicensed chaotic public library; one that is full of books that were once part of someone’s collection and have generously turned them over to us so that someone else can read these books for them. Come visit us at International Plaza from next week onwards as #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks wraps itself around the basis of this edition of the @sgbiennale Come with books you haven’t read. You’ll be surprised how many people would want to read it for you. #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #LibrariesOfInstagram #LibrariesOfIG #Bookstagram #Books #Book #Bookstagrammer #InternationalPlaza #Singapore #SingaporeBiennale #SingaporeArtMuseum (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjU4PVfrfgP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

#TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks fits perfectly in this genre! Thanks @tomgauld (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjQCZkLLWFr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

Come 14 October this year, #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks will move into a new location in Singapore. Renee and I have specifically requested for a space that’s outside of the museum. The wonderful team at @singaporeartmuseum has found us this retail unit at International Plaza, right next to Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. We are very happy that it will be very near to @plantertrevor’s #ThePavilionOfRegret, a kind of sister project of our library where he’s asking for dying plants that he will attempt to revive. We are super excited about this edition of the library because it is the first time every single book that we have ever collected across all the different editions of the library will make an appearance all at once. The library is indebted to so many people, including @anna_lovecchio_ @utemeta @magdousha @choi.binna @andreawiarda @unskattan @antoniamcarver @nadine_ghandour @pankikimun @pppfft @alayounis @nidaghouse @aseasonoutside for its continual survival. Special thanks really to Eugene Tan and June Yap for adopting the library as part of SAM’s collection. The Library of Unread Books consists of books donated by former owners who haven’t read it while they had the book on their bookshelves at home – for whatever reason. Contributors to the growing mobile library receive a personalised library card and a lifetime membership. The Library of Unread Books brings to light these once-hidden-away titles to emphasise shared knowledge. The books, accessible to anyone who can visit the library sites, work to create a commons. Reminding us that a (private) library is both a means to an end and a research tool rather than an accessory, Umberto Eco famously called for an ‘antilibrary’ made up of unread books. The novelist and scholar argued that read books are far less valuable than the unread ones and that a library should contain as much of what one does not know, as finance might allow. In the case of this library of unread books, access to knowledge is not contingent on finance, and so the books are reverted back to a common resource pool. #librariesofinstagram #libraries #library #Singapore #InternationalPlaza #UnreadBooks #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #librarylife (at International Plaza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiSthk6J3SG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

I’m having a lot of fun using @openaidalle to generate all kinds of images that come to mind. This one is currently my absolute favourite and is generated from this sentence: “Luc Tuymans painting of a woman reading 6 books at the same time set in a large old library” #Dialle #Dialle2 #HemanChong #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #OpenAIDialle #OpenAI #AIArt (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgu751XPChQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

I impulsively typed this sentence without thinking much, “A million books stacked randomly in a big messy pile in the middle of a desert as a realistic photograph" into @openaidalle and this is one of 4 images that was generated with 60 seconds. 😱😱😱 I mean. Why not. #HemanChong #Dalle #Dalle2 #OpenAi #GenerativeArt #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgnE8ZohTNe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hemanchong]

#Summer is in full swing! We made a limited edition for @thelibraryofunreadbooks with @ntu_ccasingapore! Imagine your body parts on book covers! How kinky! Special thanks to @anasophiesalazar and @utemeta for producing this! “The Library of Unread Books is an itinerant library initiated by Heman Chong and Renée Staal in 2016. It is a living reference library with a collection of over 3000 titles, that traces the perimeters of knowledge and reflects on notions of access, excess and the politics of redistribution. Every single book you find in the collection was once private property and has been donated by an individual who did not read it when it was in their possession. Contributors to the growing mobile library receive a personalised #library card and a lifetime membership. The Library of #Unread #Books brings to light these once-hidden-away titles to emphasize shared knowledge. The books, which are accessible to anyone who can visit the library sites, work to create a commons. The books of The Library of Unread Books are arranged randomly and in stacks, in a setting that encourages visitors to feel at home and re-arrange the books according to will and desire. Reminding us that a (private) library is both a means to an end and a research tool rather than an accessory, Umberto Eco famously called for an “antilibrary” made up of unread books. The novelist and scholar argued that read books are far less valuable than the unread ones and that a library should contain as much of what one does not know as finance might allow. “You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly.” In the case of this library of unread books, access to knowledge is not contingent on finance, and so the books are reverted back to a common resource pool.” #TheLibraryOfUnreadBooks #HemanChong #ReneeStaal #NTUCCA #book #books #bookstagram #artistsedition #beachtowel (at The Library of Unread Books) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf7ZxPkoNwf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=