Library of Humanity

Our Library of Humanity is a participatory art project that developed out of a commission from the British Museum, for me to design and produce an experience for visitors in conversation with the “I am Ashurbanipal: King of the World, King of Assyria” exhibition.

The scope of the main exhibition was huge, bringing to light the Assyrian culture and history. On visiting, I was particularly drawn to Nineveh, the ancient city which no longer exists (now part of modern day Iraq), and the impressiveness of the royal library of cuneiform tablets assembled by Ashurbanipal, which had been housed there (this was, in effect, the first general library of the history of humanity that we know of). Reflecting on the knowledge it assembles, its importance and how the concept and our understanding of Nineveh has travelled with us through generations, even after its disappearance, a question emerged: can a city travel with you?

This became the central question of the art installation, which unfolded in two parts:
The first part brings the ancient city of Nineveh closer to us. It gives a glimpse into its universe and its library filled with knowledge. I am very grateful to the British Museum curators, Dr John MacGinnis, Irving Finkel, Carine Harmand and Gareth Brereton, who accepted my invitation to participate, and shared with us their own contemplations on Nineveh, the place that their expertise has helped resuscitate in the public’s imagination. Their words were presented alongside motifs extracted from the exhibition, that I painted in watercolour, details picked from guardian’s clothing, palace carpets, and gardens, bringing more attention to the Assyrian’s sense of beauty. The second part shows fragments of my journey and ten cities that have inspired me, travelled with me, and have infiltrated my art over the past ten years, represented by a series of photographs and texts.

These two parts are then juxtaposed: imagined as pages, suspended within 7 large metal frames (2m x 2m each), installed along the wall of the Great Court. I wanted it to have the feel of a collective open book, with its pages facing the public, reflecting visually on different cities, different perspectives, and personal journeys. The visitors to this installation were invited to spend time with these pages, before creating their own in response, through inclusive art workshops that I designed and delivered to accompany this work. More than 1000 visitors contributed to the installation, and added their pages to the display: every day, we grew a new wall of visual representations of ancient, modern, and imaginary cities. You can see more about one of the learning experience here: Workshops / Design Nineveh