photos by Marlise Steeman
Psychic Bibliophiles
Opening Performance of "House of Wisdom Amsterdam" exhibition
Performance video 1h 24' 26''
Framer Framed
Amsterdam, Netherlands
2017
© Istanbul Queer Art Collective
Performed by Tuna Erdem, Seda Ergul
Opening performance of House of Wisdom Amsterdam exhibition.
"Every book, every volume you see here has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Cemetary of Forgatten Books I: The Shadow of the Wind
Our library had to die, when we felt we had to leave our country. Books are heavy, but their spirits are light. Now each book in our ex-library has a card; and each card contains a story.
Of how the book came into our hands
Where we read it
What we thought of it
Who has it now
Anectodes that paint the portrait of what it was like to have lived and read in our country.
Come, step into our parlour and pick a card or two
Let the book spirit mediums tell you its story
Only for your ears and once in a life time
The spirit of our dead library will talk to you personally
And stamp you permanently.