Dear Reader
in collaboration with Idea Store Whitechapel
14 March – 11 May 2014
preview: Thursday 13 March 6 – 8 PM
321 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BU

An exhibition consisting of new and existing works by eleven artists Book Works has published including: Jeremy Deller, Ruth Ewan, Karl Holmqvist, Mike Nelson, Ahmet Öğüt, Olivia Plender, Laure Prouvost, Clunie Reid, Slavs and Tatars, Mark Titchner and Emily Wardill.

Each artist has compiled a list of books and publications of significance to their practice: revealing different methodologies, and idiosyncratic or irreverent ways of researching and gaining knowledge. The selection ranges from Shelley’s Frankenstein to Hentai Manga, Independent Spirits: Spiritualism and English Plebeians 1850-1910 by Logie Barrow to Sturtevant: The Razzle Dazzle of Thinking, Dark Actors: The Life and Death of Dr David Kelly to Burrough’s Cities of the Red Night. Book Works have installed a structure with posters and wallpapers to present this temporary collection in the fourth-floor gallery and reading room of the Idea Store library, all the books are now part of the central library system.

In addition the artists have produced a series of works on bookmarks to accompany the show, with superstitious tips on ‘how to dye your cat black’, a giant tongue to mark the page, and a slogan reading THIS BOOKMARK WISHES TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE implying future reading. These will be distributed through the library to their users, as well as being available to pick up from the display.

A printed guide to book lists will also be available.