the moving finger writes… library foyer glazing

site-specific glazing for Bedminster Library, Bristol. UK

artists: Annie Lovejoy & Mac Dunlop (InSites Design)

A series of glazed panels for the library foyer, developed in association with staff and users.

The moving finger writes and having writ moves on..
excerpt from The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam

…following initial ‘concept’ discussions with Malcolm Weeks, (Assistant Community Service Manager) this phrase was chosen as the leading text for the work. It is translated into Braille & also features in English and the original language in which it was written – Persian.

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.

for further information see PDF(s):

Bedminster Library (1.4MB)

Foyer glazing project details

design concept:

To create a welcoming space

To maintain translucency and light

To be inclusive of different languages

To be inclusive of ‘script’ and communication technologies:
eg. mobile phone / typewriter

To evoke a sense of wonder / contemplation
re. the significance of words and language

Community Languages:
Finding text in one’s own first language is a welcoming experience for people using the library, in recognition of users that come from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Classic texts:
The inclusion of Classic texts, in English, Braille and the original language in which they were written; results in a designed ‘visual and poetic collage’ that is both educational and pertinent to the function of the space.

Materials:
The interior and exterior surfaces of the glazing are utilised for layered digital image transparencies combined with vinyl etch. This creates a translucent surface which changes in relation to viewpoint and available light, preferable to flat 2D imaging.

sample texts:

from top down:

In Urdu: an excerpt from Baal – e – Jibraeel The Call of Gabriel by Iqbal

translation: ‘Discover in this world, don’t wait for the next’ (chosen & translated by Munawar Hussein)

In Chinese: the poet Tu Fu (chosen & translated by Amy Read)

translation:

North of me, south of me, spring is in flood,

Day after day I have only seen gull… My path is full of petals – I have swept it for no others.

My thatch gate has been closed – but opens now for you.

It’s a long way to the market, I can offer you little –

Yet here in my cottage, there is old wine for our cups,

Shall we summon our elderly neighbour to join us,

Call him through the fence, and pour the jar dry?

‘Y’

The word ‘lbrary’ spans the glass frontage and is also represented in finger spelling (British Sign Language).

detail ‘Library’ & BSL

communication & script

Above the glazing on each side of the entrance / exit, are a series of photographic panels.

On entering the library they reference communication & script technologies such as typewriter keys and in this case, more recent technology.

The image is combined with an excerpt from ‘A to Z’ a poem by Mac Dunlop:

in each word is a letter
corresponding to the alphabet
spalling
communication

the drawings of local historian Anton Bantock

The photographic panels above the exit glazing include drawings supplied by Anton Bantock, a local Historian & archivist.

On retiring from teaching in a secondary school Anton founded the  University of Withywood in 1987, which operates from his one – bedroomed bungalow.

Anton is an incorrigable traveller, rummager & hoarder, and has an endless repertoire of talks, enthusiasms and tales from local history. Anton is also a skilled artist & has produced hundreds of drawings of local scenes which are used to raise money for the University?s sponsorship fund. The University organizes special events, exhibitions, sales and book publications to raise money for the educational sponsorship of young people in developing countries.

The University organizes three ten-week terms of activities: discussions, slide shows; talks; conversational French, German and Russian; poetry appreciation; music; drama – anything in fact that will generate talking, and also, in the summer walking – both activities sadly neglected in modern society.