BookIns happens in public spaces in city centres. Everyone who loves reading is invited to bring their favourite book to Aberdeen Art Gallery on Saturday 24 November. Beginning at noon everyone will read aloud simultaneously for up to half an hour, creating a unique auditory and visual impact on the space.
BookIns raises questions about: how spaces can be limited to ‘acceptable’ activity; philosophical notions of public and private in the act of reading; the roles of individuals and groups in any activity. It is solidly based on individual/community involvement and the associations that are connected to physical books and reading.
Many previous readers have never performed or even spoken in public before, nervous, unsure what to expect. After half an hour there’s a sense of achievement and a reminder of the sheer joy of reading aloud, often forgotten once children’s bedtime stories have passed. Many make comments such as ‘you can feel your mind expanding’ and ‘there’s something very special about this’. The positive reaction of passers-by who stop to listen can by summed up by ‘it’s like reading a magazine through your ears’, as well as comments about the visual surprise of witnessing something unexpected and seemingly bizarre in a public space. And it’s a great way to meet others who love reading!
Duration
30 minutes (approx)
Ticket Information
Event is FREE
Arrive at Aberdeen Art Gallery entrance around 11.45 am so you can choose the space you want to read in.
Please consider your book content thoughtfully as the event takes place in a public space, and please bring a book that means something to you as the connection between reader and written word made aural is vital.
