Abigail Reynolds Elliptical Reading Aberdeen Central Library 10.07.2021 10.10.2021
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Abigail Reynolds
Elliptical Reading
Aberdeen
Central Library
10.07.2021
– 10.10.2021
When Abigail Reynolds rang me from I’m so pleased Aberdeen’s distinctive
Cornwall and described Elliptical linguistic and cultural soundscape has
Reading, it sounded like a great idea. been represented in the books, with
I’ve loved public libraries ever since readings in Polish, Arabic and Doric/
the mobile library used to stop at the North-East Scots as well as English.
top of our lane when I was a child. The books are about NE Scotland or
Aberdeen’s Central Library, naturally, far-off mountains, islands, alternative
stays still and people move into its worlds, the distant past or once-
shared space, habitually, regularly, and familiar, now-distant homelands,
Abigail’s notion of creating a weekly fact or fiction, happy childhoods or
reading ritual out of a selection of human misery. Wherever these might
library-goers and their chosen books
normally be shelved, the readers have
decided where their book sits now,
Abigail Reynolds
really appealed. The choice of what
highlighting in a new way the random Elliptical Reading, 2021-22
to read is individual, reading itself is
but intentional juxtapositions of Reading group, re-bound library books
often private and solitary, but we’re all
library books, a treasure-hunt or game
doing the same thing – a library is the of hide-and-seek.
place where the commonality of the Abigail Reynolds’ work embraces sculpture, collage,
activity and a diverse community of ‘Ellipsis’ is an out-of-kilter reading moving image and performance. Much of her art
readers comes together. circle, but as a term in rhetoric it’s the is inspired by her deep love of books and libraries.
dot dot dot, the missing connections She sees libraries as “egalitarian, tolerant, safe spaces
We all have favourite books, that have you work out yourself. An Elliptical teeming with different, conflicting ideas”, where
shaped us and our understanding of Reading isn’t a performance but can diverse communities overlap. Incensed by their lack
the world. Having the hands of the be moving to experience: the listening, of funding, she has fought to defend public libraries in
reader printed on their chosen book, quality of attention, varied voices, the this country.
replacing the title, makes us think reciprocity… It will change over weeks, During British Art Show 9, Reynolds is developing
first of the specific reader, why this and won’t be the same in Plymouth, Elliptical Reading, a regular reading hour at local
book might have meant so much to Manchester and Wolverhampton – libraries in each city of the BAS9 tour. Readers
them. The hands put the ‘touch’ into this is Aberdeen’s Elliptical Reading, meet to share short sections from a favourite book,
‘touchstone’ book. In this time of and what we find in the dot dot dot… creating between them an unruly text or word collage,
pandemic, when touch has been so it’s us. which builds over time.
much missed, this reminds us of the Helen Lynch In Aberdeen, Elliptical Reading is presented at
many hands library books ordinarily
Helen Lynch is Creative Director of Aberdeen Central Library, where visitors can find
pass through. Library books, too,
the WayWORD cross-arts festival, a books which have been chosen by local readers,
have been in quarantine, socially
writer and ceilidh band musician who re-bound by the artist, and re-shelved by the readers
isolating, redefined as possible virus- in new places outside their usual categories. An insight
transmitting surfaces. We’ve had so stays in Aberdeen.
into the reader’s choice is included on a bookmark in
many beloved people to miss, we’ve Abigail Reynolds will take part in the each book.
perhaps barely noticed missing our WayWORD festival on Tuesday 21
much-loved books, the new ones we September. To book FREE tickets go
haven’t met this last year. to www.waywordfestival.com
Aberdeen
Central Library
Opening hours Lending Library
10am-1pm (Mon-Sat) Upper Floor
2pm-5pm (Mon-Fri)
Local Interest
Use this map to explore the
Library and find the books 9
selected by the readers, re-bound
by the artist and re-shelved by
the readers in new places outside Stairs
their usual locations.
1 Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic
Gibbon (1932) Pub. Polygon
Reader: James Tocher
3
American
2 The Butterfly’s Burden
Folklore
History
by Mahmoud Darwish (2003)
Life Science
Art
Pub. Bloodaxe
Business
4 8 Lift
Reader: Noon Salah Eldin
Psychology
3 Joseph Knight by James 6 1
Robertson (2003)
Pub. 4th Estate
Reader: Margaret Forbes 5
4 The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction
by Ursula K. Le Guin (1986)
Pub. Ignota
Reader: Svetlana Panova
5 Dzieci z Bullerbyn (The Six
Bullerby Children)
by Astrid Lindgren (1947)
Pub. Nasza Księgarnia
Reader: Halina Ficon and
Anna Kruhlik
6 American Psycho by Bret
Easton Ellis (1991)
Pub. Picador
Reader: Dallas King
7 Jean Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
(1847) translated into Doric by 7
Sheena Blackhall and Sheila
Literature
Templeton (2012)
Pub. Evertype
Reader: Annie Reid
Lending Library
Ground Floor Stairs
Stairs 2
8 The Mont Blanc Massif Poetry
by Gaston Rebuffat (2002)
Pub. Kaye Ward
Reader: Doug Cameron
9 Poems by Charles Hamilton
Sorley in Up the Line to Death:
The war poets 1914-1918 (1964)
Pub. Magnum
Reader: Eleanor Campbell Main
Desk
Lift Entry and
disabled
access via
level side
access
Step
entry
Step
exit
Elliptical Reading by Abigail Reynolds is presented by Aberdeen Art Gallery and
Hayward Gallery Touring in partnership with Aberdeen City Libraries as part
of British Art Show 9.
The British Art Show is a landmark touring exhibition that celebrates the vitality
of recent art made in Britain. Organised every five years by Hayward Gallery
Touring, the exhibition brings the work of artists defining new directions in
contemporary art to four cities across the UK.
Follow Elliptical Reading as it develops across the four host cities of the BAS9
tour: Aberdeen, Wolverhampton, Manchester and Plymouth. Videos of the
readings in each city will be added to the Aberdeen recording, which is available
at www.britishartshow9.co.uk/artists/abigail-reynolds
Visit British Art Show 9, Aberdeen Art Gallery 10.7.2021 - 10.10.2021
Admission free
Cover image: Abigail Reynolds, Image of artist’s studio door, 2020 © the artist. Courtesy the artist
For all the latest news about BAS9 in Aberdeen follow us on social media
@AbdnArtMuseums #BritishArtShow9 #BAS9You can also read
